The Thief

Onward Through the Nightmares

I awoke in an unfamiliar bed, and for a short moment did not know where I was. I slowly took in the sight of Katon's shack. I sat up and saw him sitting on a wobbly wooden chair next to the table. A bowl of porridge steamed in front of me. His head was in his hands. Hearing the blankets whisper against each other Katon abruptly looked up.

"Oh, you're awake Princess" I stood up and sat across from him at the table. He slid the bowl of porridge in front of me.

"Eat up. You are gonna need your strength. Today we take a hard ride into the deep forests of Esterwolf" He got up from the table and began gathering supplies and packing them into our saddle bags.

"Katon, aren't you going to eat?" Katon didn't look up from his work.

"Already ate." I looked at the barren food barrels near the cupboard. He must have used most of the food to feed me. I finished my meal and went to the wash basin to wash my bowl before Katon could argue. Then I set to working beside him gathering provisions for our journey. When we were finished packing, Katon left to saddle up our horses, leaving me to change. I reached my hand into the bag to pull out the dark blue dress, and below it I saw a beautiful golden cloak of the softest material. No doubt, Trill had packed it without my knowledge. I smiled at the memory of her when I was a mere child. But the happiness faded once again when I remembered that Trill was dead, and the Guard was not far behind us. I slipped into my dark blue dress and wrapped the warm, golden cloak about my shoulders. I finished putting my belongings into the pack, along with the maps from Katon. I then strung my quiver on my back and added my beautiful bow. I gathered up Katon's heavy sword in arms and set out for the stables. I found Katon and his men gathered by the horses. The man who had kissed me the day before stepped forward, and I hastily stepped back, ready to fight. He dropped to his knees, pressing his face to the ground.

"Please forgive me, Lady Nala, of the wrongdoings, I have committed against you. I vow to be most loyal under your leadership, and I offer my sorrows at the passing of your father." Slightly confused, I accepted his apology so that we could move past the discomfort I felt with a man at my feet.

"What is your name?" I did not know why I needed to know his name, but it felt important.

"Barson." And thus our conversation ended as I shifted from foot to foot. My boots laced high sinking slightly in the mud. The men all gathered around their horses and began to mount. Katon hoisted me up onto my horse, and I surveyed the trail ahead of me. I began to feel dizzy. Confused, I reached out to steady myself. I began to slip from my horse and felt myself fall into something soft. I looked up to see Katon's face, looking very worried.

I soon fell unconscious and nightmares gripped me once again. Images of my father's execution played through my mind and I saw him burning again and again. Then I found myself in his place, the flames licking up my skin. I didn't feel anything as Katon held me in his arms while he rode, Zeus following close behind. Barson gathered up the rest of the gear and took up the rear of the group. We trekked deep into the jungle and up into the high mountains. The wind began to pick up around the men, which led to snow. The group decided to seek shelter in a cave for the night. After laying me on a layer of blankets Katon made a fire as the men hunkered down for the night. I continued to fight my way through the nightmares. Each time, the death of my father haunting me changing into my own death. I began to sweat and toss in my sleep. I was unaware of the unease and worry I caused the men. I began to get chills and my body slipped into a sickness, with sweating and shaking. Katon sat hunched over my unconscious form. He pulled my head into his lap and dribbled a small bit of broth into my mouth. I drew my bow and aimed at the executioner as Katon pulled me into his arms and falls asleep keeping me in a fatherly embrace. The journey continued while I continued to toss and turn trapped in my own nightmares. When we finally reached the base, Katon was frantic. I had gained a fever and it was ever rising. I did not feel my body being laid in the hospital wing. An old woman changed my clothes into something more suitable for being sick, and Katon left me in their care. When I finally woke up, it was dark. I heard soft sobbing nearby. It sounded like a man. I sat up to see Katon at the end of the bed.

"Oh! Princes, you've awaken. I was so worried!!" Katon pulled me into his giant arms for a bear hug. I gasped in surprise.

"Where are we?" I looked around the hospital wing, a few strangers lying a couple beds down.

"We are in the Rebellion base. We travelled here even though you were unconscious. You've been asleep for 3 weeks. Rose, the head nurse, has been taking care of you. You had chills and a fever. You were shaking and tossing in your sleep. Just a few minutes ago... your breathing seemed to stop all together, I feared you were dead, but you woke up and came back to me." Katon pulled me into his arms again. I began to tell him of my nightmares and broke down in shattered sobs. I told him how I had watched my father die again and again, and how in turn I suffered the same fate. I told him of the suffocating feeling of not being able to escape. Trying to fight and get away. Shudders wracked my body as I cried into Katon's strong shoulders. Soon, my eyes began to droop and Katon laid me back on the hospital bed. I slept into a dark, dreamless sleep and felt my body slip into peacefulness. I woke up the next morning to a quiet room. I found a bowl of hot broth next to my bed. Eagerly I dug into my meal. Katon entered from a door in the far corner of the room and I didn't lookup as he approached. But I heard his wooden leg tap against the cold stone floor.

"How are you feeling?" I continued to eat. "Much better." I stood up and hugged Katon.

"Thank you for getting me here so quickly and saving me. Can I have a look around the base now?" Katon looked uneasy, but reluctantly agreed. Rose, the nurse rushed over to change my clothing and Katon turned his back. I was slid into my blue dress once again and donned my cloak. Rose fussed over my hair, and I laughed and sat back down so she could put my hair into elaborate braids. It had been a long time since gentle hands had brushed through my strands of hair. Not since... not since my mother died. I felt my locks of hair slowly being pulled into a beautiful crown with tendrils of hair framing my face. She pulled out a small piece of glass to act as a mirror and I gazed at my reflection. I gasped. I looked strong, and confident. Not some broken girl, but someone who could be capable of leading a rebellion. Katon lead me through the cold stone halls of the base. It was quiet.

"Katon where is everyone?" Katon looked thoughtfully at the bare walls.

"Probably asleep or training outside. Our numbers are greatly diminished from our last battle with the Guard. We lost half of our men. But still, there is hope. The oppression of the Guard is getting worse, so people are flooding to us to help bring it down. We have connections all over Allara recruiting people who are willing to fight for what is right. We just got word that 300 more men and women will be joining our cause within the week. Even citizens as far as Northern Glacia in Guard territory are joining the fight. We will start training and working with them on Thursday. We hope to have 1200 men and women by the end of this week."

"Those aren't great numbers compared to the Guards great and many thousands, Katon, are we fighting a losing battle?" Katon steeled his face, determined.

"No, we're going to win."