The Pure, The Faithful and The Gentle

Echo in the Wells of Silence

Kay shifted his bag and glared at Meredith, who was gurgling as she clung onto Faith's back. Faith had opted to carry her bag on a stick instead. Now, they had an extra mouth to feed and another life to fend for. They should have just left Meredith at the orphanage. That stupid baby, making so much noise. Gurgling and laughing. Kay had an urge to just stick some cloth into her mouth. They were going to get caught in no time. The three hurried along the path under the shadows of the trees.

What was that sound?

Did that tree just move from that spot?

Kay's heart palpitated to the symphony of a thousand drums. Do. Not. Think. He glanced at Faith. She was humming merrily and occasionally craned her neck to smile at Meredith. Didn't she know the trouble this baby would cause? Really, now. Kay gave an irritated grunt. "When are we stopping? I'm tired," Faith asked, jogging towards him and nudging him with her shoulder. "Not yet. The next village is further up. With some luck, we might get a bed at a farmer's place and catch some breakfast before setting off to Scarborough," he replied cooly.

After a few minutes, they stumbled across a clearing. Right in the centre, there was a well with ivy creeping across, closing over the well's opening and around the bars and shelter. "Maybe we should just stay here for the night? I don't think I can carry on further. Besides, we can refill our water supply," Faith suggested sleepily. Kay thought for a while and relented.

Faith lay a sleeping Meredith gently onto a pile of leaves and took off her bundle and laying it beside her and lay down next to Meredith and soon dropped off to sleep (( A/N man that was a whole lotta 'lay' )). Kay looked at the sleeping duo. They looked so peaceful, so happy that Kay almost smiled at the sight. He took out his and Faith's water and walked over to the well. He tore off the ivy. The water shimmered under the moonlight. He lowered the wooden bucket that was placed beside the well and anticipated the small 'splash' as it hit the surface of the water. To his surprise, it didn't make a single noise. Kay frowned. What kind of weird well was this? He drew up the bucket and let it fall again. There certainly was a splash- just without the sound. He glanced at the water in the bucket. This was probably a magic well that his parents had once told him about as a bedtime story. Some bedtime story, Kay thought.

It was getting really weird and creepy.

Kay didn't like that.

He wasn't so sure whether they should drink the water either.

We would die of thirst if we didn't drink.

We might get something worse than death, the other part of his brain hissed, feed it to the little one. We'll know if it has some special effects.

Kay gulped.

The trees were moving again- almost dancing.

Was that singing?

No. Obviously not. Who would even be here, at this time of the night- except us?

Kay strained his ear.

Nothing.

He pulled up the bucket.

The bucket didn't even make a sound when it hit the cobblestone well on the way up.

Suddenly, a flash of bronze caught his eye. A plaque. Some parts were still covered by the ivy though.

"The Well Of Silence," Kay read, with a little difficulty, "Weird."

He dipped a finger into the pail and knelt beside Meredith. Kay dabbed his finger on Meredith's lips.

Still nothing.

"Pish-posh, I think it's drinkable," Kay filled up his and Faith's bottle and took a swig from his and went to bed.

The trees swished, as if laughing softly at him.

Oh, the things that would happen the next morning...

Author's note (wheeeeee)
Short update since it's sour_lemon26 birthday and she wants me to update as a birthday present I guess. Well, you didn't specify which book you know Thalia. So I choose this one. Also, make sure you update To Turn Back Time on my birthday too, yeah?
YOU GUYS SHOULD GO CHECK OUT sour_lemon26 'S BOOKS THEY ARE REALLY GOOD (1 Harry Potter/PJO crossover and one story [personally, the story is my fav].