When All You Have are Embers

XIX

Aurora

As she dabbed a damp cloth on the unknown faery's forehead she could tell the pub was busy because of all the noise coming from outside the room she was in. It was dimly lit with only a few candles by the bedside table. 

The faery stirred in his sleep when a plate dropped outside. 

"Shhh, do not awaken. You're the only reason I can stay here..." She whispered. "Shhh." 

She turned around when the door to the room opened. Grey was standing there in the doorway and nodded his head. 

"How's everything going?" He asked, stepping in the room. 

"He's okay, he keeps moving which is a good sign. He'll wake up soon." She said, standing up from the bed. 

"That's good." Grey sighed. "I'll take him from here, your turn in the pub." He said, taking the cloth from her. She nodded and left the room. When she closed the door behind her she sighed before walking downstairs to where the people were. 

The noise got louder with every step she took down the wooden stairs. When she entered the main area of the pub she noticed that Grey had taken the locket that faery was trapped in and leaned it against one of the walls for decoration. She didn't mind this, in fact she thought it was pretty. She had never gotten close enough to a human or Elf to see or touch anything they use or wear so to see something like this so close up was interesting and fun for her. 

As she cleaned mugs with a small rag, and wiped down the tables and shelves someone called her. She turned around and saw Oliver waving at her from the front door. She smiled the biggest smile and ran over to him to scoop him up in her arms. As she hugged him tightly she ruffled his hair and put him down gently. 

"What are you doing here, Oli? Where's your mother?" She asked. 

"She's asleep at home." He said. 

As she smiled, surprised he came to see her so late a small rumble made the tree shake. She grabbed onto a table to keep her up right, and it was over as soon as it started. 

"It's okay, Oli it was just a small tremor." She smiled but just as she finished her sentence the ground cracked violently and she fell to her knees. Things fell from their shelves and shattered on the floor. She pulled Oliver close and held him as panic ensued. 

Grey came running downstairs with the still unconscious faery in his arms. 

"Everyone out, evacuate this pub now!" He shouted. 

Aurora had never heard him yell that loud before, but nonetheless she picked up Oliver and flew out the front door. As she watched more and more faerys flood out the door she placed Oliver on a branch of a different tree carefully. 

"Hold onto this and don't let go until I'm back, no matter what okay?" She said. 

"Okay." He answered, taking the branch in his hand. 

She nodded and flew away from him, she raced out of the forest and when she came to the opening she saw the sky. It was almost completely taken over by the dark red smoke that was coming from Scattan and Morc. Her breath was caught in her throat as she looked at the once beautiful blue sky. Thunder cracked as the ground shook. Something happened for this to get this bad this quickly. 

She flew back and scooped up Oliver as he waited for her. 

"Where are we going Rory?" He asked. 

Her mind was racing, she didn't know where Grey was, or Oliver's mother, this was bad.