Knox of the Bloom

Chapter 23 - By the Gods

The air grew colder as they climbed higher into the mountains, the sun high in the sky did little to penetrate the iciness coursing through Knox's veins. Their rations of dried meat had run dry days before, and there was no game to be had. Knox tried to boost Eriu's morale by telling her a tale of the time Flint-Blade brought him and taught him how to tickle fish in the mountains, where you would wait with your hands in the water until the fish came into your grip and you would rip it from the water.

"But the damn fish flapped out of my hands and hit me into the face," laughed Knox.

Eriu nodded, giving him a small smile.

"What is it, mo cuishle? Why are you so down?"

"It's a bit of everything, mo gra."

"Tell me."

"I just... Since the Druids took me and made me one of their own I haven't known who I am. I'm still figuring it out, I guess."

"You are my love, and that's all I need to know."

She gave him a large smile then. "Thanks Knox." She cuddled into him. "I don't know what I'd do without you. I can't imagine going through this journey alone."

"Your journey is my journey, mo cuishle. Your path is my own, for both of us to roam, together."

"You always know what to say to make me feel better."

"It's because nothing makes me happier than seeing you smile."

Eriu looked around at the barren landscape, at the towering trees, at the falling snow. "It seems smiles are all we have."

Knox put his hand on hers. "Smiles are all we need, for together we can face whatever life throws at us."

Eriu put her head on his shoulder, nestling beneath the thick hide, and Tapa snuggled under it with them. The fire flickered and danced and cast majestic colours onto the snow around them, for the Chah Stone was alight with magic.

The Dark Ones bayed in the distance once more but paid them little heed, for Knox had chased them off the previous night and they were afraid of him. As Eriu fell to sleep, Knox could only wonder how his clan fared, for they possessed no Chah Stone, but Hornbeard by now would have his five hearths ablaze and the hall would be full of drunken revellers, and he couldn't deny he wished they were there now. For he missed his home, even if he was a mountain man, Hornbeard's camp held a special place in his heart.

By now the casks would have been rolled from the undervault, and Hornbeard would be sitting in his stone throne, telling the young children stories of old, like Knox had so loved when he was a lad.

Knox's thoughts turned to his mother, who he had never known, and he wondered would she be proud of him, would she be content with the man he had become?

No matter what, he knew that she would have taken kindly to Eriu, for a more warm-hearted woman in all the land he had never met. She possessed him of body and spirit, entirely. It was as if a piece of himself had always been missing, and when they'd met that part of himself had been replaced.

He snuggled into her and gave Tapa a rub down, and said a silent prayer to Skral's soul, for he knew the Druid was now walking in the Otherworld.

There journey so far had been unfortunate, but he only hoped that luck would be on their side from henceforth.

"I love you, mo cuishle," he whispered into Eriu's ear, and she cuddled into him tighter.

Though he was hungry, cold, tired, and even he wasn't ashamed to say afraid, for the Dark Ones were gathering more and more, he wouldn't trade his place for anywhere else in the world if it meant he couldn't be with Eriu.