The Places We Go

Chapter IV; Arlie

     When Arlie awoke she found herself on the bridge, staring right at Foja. "Finally! You're awake. How do you feel?" Truth was Arlie didn't feel like she could stand. "I'll be fine. Is Anastasia ok?" Arlie said, sitting up and turning to see Anastasia. "Yes. She landed in the water, so she's just a little wet." Foja said, looking over to where Anastasia was eating. As soon as she had finished, she set the plate down and went straight to sleep. "She's not doing alright. Something happened there that even I can't understand." Foja said, looking from Anastasia to the direction of Mirirejar. "We have to get Soleil out faster this time." Arlie said, finally succeeding to get up. "But we need to get Anastasia some help first." she continued, walking towards her. She hoisted Anastasia over her shoulder, but couldn't get her into a good position. "I'll get Leod." Foja said, flying over in his direction. With stiff steps he walked over and used a stiff arm to help carry Anastasia to the hospital.
     Once in, they saw the receptionist, Charlotte. She's worked there for as long as they could all remember, helping her father at the desk once she could walk. "Oh, thank goodness you're back!" She said, only seeing Arlie at first. "Oh, no, Queen Anastasia! Is she?" Charlotte trailed off as she ran over to them. "She's alive, just sleeping." Arlie said. "We're worried about her mental state and wanted to hand her over." Foja butted in. "But Queen Soleil is now being held, I'm going back for her." Arlie said, handing Anastasia to Charlotte. "No, it's too dangerous to go by yourself." Foja worried. "Fine, then once Queen Anastasia is well again we will rally the army. Please, put her at top priority. Not for us Queens, but for the kingdom." Arlie said, trying to prove she was saying this with good intentions for the kingdom and not themselves. Charlotte nodded and took Anastasia to the back. Foja and Leod returned to the bridge, while Arlie decided to rally up the troops to prepare for once Anastasia was well.
     Realizing all the weapons in the arsenal were no longer useful due to not being used since her grandfather's prime, it seemed she needed to visit the blacksmith. He lived on the edge of town, never wanting to talk to people unless it is about business matters. His forge itself was nice, made of dark polished stone and a heavy metal door.
     Coming down the path, Arlie could hear the clanking of hammer on metal even from far away. Smoke was coming from the chimney, as it always was. After struggling to open the door, Arlie came in and saw the blacksmith, Scheven, hard at work making a blade. If not for his giant ears, for he was a goblin, and the incredibly loud bell he likely wouldn't have known she was there. "Queen Arlie! It's great to see you again. Did you get Queen Anastasia back?" He said, wiping his brow and putting down his hammer as he walked towards her. "She's back, but Soleil isn't." Scheven's face changed from glee to fear in an instant. "What do you mean? Did she... pass?" Arlie explained to him what had happened, her plan, and his task. "Right away, my Queen." He started, lifting his hammer. "What do you need and in what quantity?" he said, positioning the hammer to resume the blade once Arlie had gone. She placed her order and he immediately went to work, claiming that if he worked hard enough he could complete the order in about a year, if the swords were to be of good quality. Knowing this would be too late, Arlie asked to be his apprentice for a while and help make these swords so that the artillery could be made in six months rather than twelve.
     Arlie and Scheven worked side by side for two months when finally Anastasia had been discharged from the hospital. Leaving the forge for the first time in those two months, for Arlie wanted to get as much work done as possible to the point where she even took temporary housing in Scheven's forge, she went to the hospital and spoke with the doctor.
     "She's not all the way better, but we have re-socialized her and somewhat fixed her odd sleep schedule. Apparently only two weeks there did something strange with her brain, it's not completely reversible. She's doing much better now, however. I worry about Queen Soleil, though. Queen Anastasia was there for two weeks, Queen Soleil has been there for two months." The doctor explained as Anastasia was making her way to the lobby. She seemed to be normal, walking on her own and speaking correctly now. She was still in the same green dress she had been wearing the day she was captured, to where you'd think nothing had ever happened. They left to get necessary things from Anastasia's home, then she joined Scheven and herself at the forge to quicken the pace of the weapon-making. Arlie and Scheven had done some good work, but there was still much to be done. Allowing Arlie to get some much needed rest, Scheven trained Anastasia. When Arlie awoke they were both hard at work and so she went to join them. The process had grown tiresome and dull to Anastasia and Arlie, who couldn't fathom doing this for a career as Scheven did.
     News of Anastasia's descent into madness in Mirirejar had brought many people who wanted to talk to her about it to the forge. Not wanting to answer these questions, Anastasia used the excuse that she had to work on the blades. Arlie worried for her, and Soleil. Anastasia certainly seemed better than she had at first but if she heard anything remotely close to the words "Luna" or "Miriejar" she would tense up. She went to bed earliest of the three and oftentimes Arlie and Scheven would talk about her after she had. They'd often say the same things over, Arlie starting the loop each night.

"I'm worried, Scheven. She wasn't ever like this, she barely slept before and was fine. But now? She's sleeping from the time the moon rises to when the sun is halfway up!"

"I'm worried too, for both her and Queen Soleil. Queen Anastasia was there for two weeks, Queen Soleil has been there two months. It might be worthwhile to send a scout and see if we can't get her out now before we atack."

"No, Scheven. This is the only way. Her guards may be weak, but she is strong."

"No kidding. Your wounds were pretty bad."

"You're right about that."

     It was in fact that the wound she had gotten from the blow of the fall on the bridge had hindered her arm movement significantly, causing hardship for Arlie when swinging the heavy hammer at first, but was much better now. Anastasia had some physical wounds too, but nothing compared to the mental toll she had received.
     Arlie's mind could only wander as to what had happened there to Anastasia, as she never spoke of the experience, and what could have happened to Soleil. Soleil had been there much longer than Anastasia, who when awake had intense mood swings; especially when she was mad. She never got mad at people other than herself, so that was no problem. But, if she made one tiny mistake on a blade she would lash out on it. She didn't hurt anything or anyone, other than Arlie's, Scheven's, and her own eardrums. Her voice was louder than Arlie and Scheven's hammers, no matter how hard they swung. It was worrisome since before this Anastasia rarely got mad, and when she did she always had a very good reason to be. Nevertheless, the three continued to make the weapons. They had fallen behind on schedule, since Anastasia produced more disruptions than blades. It wasn't her fault, and Arlie and Scheven did their best to calm her, but to little avail. Even more frightening, Anastasia had only been out of the hospital for five days. Arlie and Scheven decided to take her back to the hospital.
     "Oh, you're back. How is everything?" Charlotte said solemnly after seeing Anastasia sleeping. "She's not doing well. Is there anything else you could do?" Arlie said, placing Anastasia on the lobby couch. "I'll get the doctor." Charlotte quickly ran back to get her. She said that there was some sort of tonic she could provide, though it was very risky. It could get Anastasia back to normal, or it could corrupt her further. They waited until Anastasia was awake enough to make the decision.
     "So, do you want to try it?" The doctor asked Anastasia once Arlie had told her that Anastasia was awake. "What do you mean exactly by corrupt me further?" She asked, Arlie darting her eyes between them, looking at whoever was speaking. "Well, you'd sleep even more. More mood swings, much more violent behavior when you're mad. This would only occur on the off chance it doesn't work, however." She explained while Anastasia stared at her hands. They were palms up while she spoke, but fists now that it was her turn. "I'll do it." The doctor nodded and went to get the tonic. "I mean, it's got a good chance of working, why not try it. Right?" Anastasia asked, looking over to Arlie. "I would if I were you." Alrie responded, trying to comfort her friend and validate her decision. The doctor soon returned with the tonic and instructions on when to drink it. They left the hospital and returned to Scheven's forge. Just after one dose of the tonic it was clear that Anastasia was among the majority success rate. She was making even better blades than before with less breaks in between, and when she made a mistake now instead of lashing out on herself she quietly found a way to fix it. It made Arlie very happy to know that Anastasia was better now, and that there would be hope for Soleil's return, should she be corrupted there as well.