Her flame

The night

I tilt my head back and let the wind ruffle my hair. Water splashes the hem of my skirt and drenches my shoes. I spread out my arms wide like a bird
ready for flight.

" Shiloh! Come here!" Krip calls my name across the field. I turn back to see him, ginger hair tousled from wind and sword held high against the rosy sky.

I gather the fabric of my skirt in my fists and run through the grass cutting my ankles.
" What 'er you doing out here? You know if my father finds you-"

His lips meet mine before I can finish. His warmths spreads to my cheeks, my neck and chest until I can feel him in ever limb. I pull away with my hands on his shoulders, forehead pressed to his. I notice his sword gleaming like gold in the sunset rested at his hip.

" Would you like to practice?" He asks with a certain rasp in his voice that I've only ever heard once.

" Yes." I grab the handle and pull it next to me, point driven into the dirt.

" Remeber to stand straight and tall." His hand brushes my shoulders as I do what I am told. I lift the sword in front of me towards the stream. Last time I did this I fell with the weight of the iron. Not this time. I spread my legs and bring it above my head with both hands.

" Go!" I throw down the sword, slicing through the air and landing between my ankles.

" I did it!" I drop the weapon and turn around to find Krip grinning from ear to ear. I wrap my arms around him and he lifts me into the air, the tips of my toes just barely reaching the ground.

" Yes, Shiloh! Yes! " I breath heavily into the side of his neck. He smelled like he always did, the scent of roasted meet and fresh grass lingering on his skin.

" Young man." A stern voice bellows from behind me. My face grows pale as I recognize instantly who it belongs to. The sky paints purple light on my father's face when I turn around. Krip's hand release me and he stumbles backwards.

" Sir, I-"

" Enough. What have I told you about seeing my daughter?" Krip gently pushes me away from in between him and my father.  His eyes look terrified but he holds his head high when he speaks.

" If you just let me explain-" He tries to speak but is once again interrupted.

" Turn her gown green?" I notice the bow and arrow in my father's hand when he fiddles with the string. Krip must see it as well because his face drains of color. My father sees his reaction and lifts his weapon. Time freezes. The crash of the water hushes. The bushes no longer rustle with breeze. Our heavy sharp breaths break the deafening silence. My eyes dart from Krip to my father. Krip's eyes are ripe with fear and he is shrinking backwards, no longer feeling as courageous. My father is flushes with rage, murderous rage blinding him from reality. I take a step between the two and face my father.

" Shiloh, stand down." His voice is commanding and harsh.

" Drop the bow." I stand my ground with my legs spread like I would If I were holding a sword. Alas I am not.

" What have you done to her, boy? Dishobeying my commands and using consarn swords?" He nods towards the sword laying in the grass.

" Sir, I would never." The trembling in Krip's voice comes before the words.

" Father!" I shout over them both, wind ruffling my hair with a single gush.

" Stand down, Shiloh!" He releases the arrow. It soars through the air like a redbreast on the first day of spring. I back up onto Krip, knocking us both off out feet and to the ground. The arrow splits the air and inch from my face, right where Krip's chest was just a second ago. I land on top of him for a moment, his carrot colored hair in a halo around his head. My father belows loudly and I bolt to my feet. He charges towards us like a water buffalo. Before I can think, I'm rolling on my side towards the riverbend. My left cheek stings badly when I land, but the pounding of my heart in my ears is the only thing I think of.

" Shiloh!" Krip shouts moments before he gets thrown to the ground by Father.

" I'd rather have thou speak the devil's tougue than ever speak her name again!" I notice the gleam of a dagger against Krip's throat.

" Father, no!" I pick myself up and run towards them before I hear the stomach churning sound of a slice. Krip's scream of agony quickly turn to god-awful gurgling while the dagger drags along his throat. I stop in my tracks, staring at my father with blood up to his elbows. Krip keeps shouting and gurgling until his dying breath. I feel like my father in that moment. The fields turns red and hellish.

" I only want whats best for you, Shiloh!" My father stands up and smiles a smile at me that makes me sick. I notice the sword at my feet, glowing red and reflecting off the eternal flames. I grab it's handle slowly and lift it off the grass.

" Women cannot wield the man's weapon." My father says to me, remaining still. I lift it to point at his chest, the tip slightly nestling his shirt.

" You never trusted me, Father. You never expected more from me then to be a Sister. Or a wife to the rich man's word? Well I have got a flame begining in my heart. I flame that rises up to my throat and to my brain." I clutch the handle with both hands.

" This flame shall take a toll on my happiness but never my spirit!" I spit the word's at him like poison. I lift the weapon over my head and hold my back straight.

" Yet I shall have more fight than thou shall ever hast and when the temple bells sound in the morrow, they shall find thou on this hither soil." I bring the sword down over his head, his blood splattering over my body. I breathe in the metallic smell as he keels over to the ground having lost his final fight. I drop the sword and run over to Krip, who lies on the ground looking much smaller than he has ever seemed.

" Oh, Krip..." My voice trails to an end as I look at his face. He looks like he's resting other than the bright red smile carved into his throat. I place my head on his chest as rain begins to pour over the three of us, though I am the only one who feels it's soothing droplets on my skin.