Dreamed This Up (Dreams, Book 1)

Chapter 16: Troubles

After the brief ceremony, the Council Master gave them a certificate, and sent them home. "Your case will be deliberated in the private meeting in two weeks, and you will be called up after that. Be ready."

They left for home.

Two weeks later ...

It had gotten considerably colder. They took to wearing heavier cloaks when going out, and there was an uptick in the number of colds and flus Rofin was called in for. Several times he had Sophie wait outside the sickroom, while he tended the ill harac. He had tried to leave her home, but she stubbornly insisted. "Soon I'll be unable to travel with you, I want to make the most of the time" 

He looked worried, "But, I fear you'll catch something."

She put her hand in his and wrapped them around each other, "You'd bring home germs anyway! And I'm not going to stop seeing you, so ... I may as well go. I can still move around."

He sighed then and agreed. Secretly, he was just as glad. He did not like to be apart from her either!

So now it was a chilly day, and they hurried through the streets with their heavy cloaks.

As they passed an alley, Rofin heard a weak voice call out, "Pala! please ... help." Sighing, he tugged on Sophie's arm, "Wait. Let me see what happened. Probably some fool got drunk and wants a magic cure."

She nodded, "I'll wait just inside the arch here, the wind is picking up"

She watched as Rofin stepped carefully into the alley, "Hello? Who called out? Do you need help - AGH! OUF!"

"Rofin? ROFIN! What's going on!" Heedless of her promise to stay shelter, Sophia ran after him, and saw that he was being attacked by two burly Rifans! "What - what - STOP that!"

"No, Sophie, get he- OW!" he gasped out before being slammed into the wall. She screamed and flew in a blind rage at one of the men, pummeling with her small fists. "Get off him! Leave my husband alone! You - eek!"

One of them picked her up easily, and held her at arm's length. He barked a short laugh, "Not a sheep or rabbit but a cat! They didn't mention your claws!"

"Put me down! You let him, AH!"

He dropped her in a heap and kicked her stomach! She curled up to protect it, and tried to scramble out of reach at the same time. The Rifan leaned over and snarled. "Listen, triske, you stop interfering, and I might leave you alone" Sophie suppressed a sob and curled up farther. The two returned to attacking Rofin. After a moment, Sophie felt a tiny hand pat her shoulder. She turned, and saw one of the children she knew from their rounds. "Shhhh, we's gonna help" Sophie tried to shake her head and wave the child off, but both she and the Rifans were startled by the sudden hail of small stones! The alley was a low one, bordered by buildings only a story high, and as Sophie glanced up, she saw that the sides were lined with children pitching stones, from tiny pebbles to hefty pieces of brick.

"Get dem! Get dem!" "You stay away from our pala!" "Bad! Bad!" "We don't like you!" "Hooray!"

This last cry from a tiny tot who appeared unaware of the purpose of his big sister's rock throwing.

Deftly the children pitched, and Sophie was not hit once, even as the surprised Rifans stood and tried to shield themselves. They grabbed for the children, but the walls were just high enough that the children were out of reach! Snarling curses, the Rifans picked up some of the thrown bits of brick, and winged them back at the children, but they nimbly danced out of the way! The tot laughed, "Da's coming!" and sure enough, the fathers and brothers of the children had arrived, and soon enough chased the attackers out of the alley! 

Sophie crept over to where Rofin lay crumpled against the wall. She gently touched him, and he groaned, cautiously opening one eye. The other was swollen shut. "Oh, what did they do to you!" She gently pulled his head into her lap and looked up to see the other harac who had crowded around her. "Is he hurt?" "We'll help!" "Where do you want us to take you?" "What do we do?" Before she could utter a word, one of the rickshaws the men often pulled had been clattered into the alley, along with a stretcher. They carefully rolled Rofin onto it, then lifted him into the rickshaw. It was a larger than usual one, and wide enough that two men pulled it. They helped Sophie into it as well, and asked again where to take them. She hesitated a moment, and then said, "Do you know Loklin's apothecary? Then take us there." The trap rattled off, and Sophie held Rofin, trying to ignore the shooting pains now striking her.

~~~~~

Thank you Aria F. for altering this one. Found on Google

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a76/TaliaG/WattPad/Something%20happened_zpsbvanjcr6.jpg

ooh, this picture is nice. Have to see if I can work it in somehow!

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__mRBOals060/TCW1dt3VYII/AAAAAAAAAFA/62MKfNCU7Nk/s1600/AnimeCouple.jpg

Note: I re-read the chapter and realized there are several similarities to a scene in George MacDonald's Lilith, where a troupe of children lead by love interest Lona rescue protagonist Vane from his captors by throwing small stones and fruit pits. But they also had animals helping them out, so I think I'm OK here.