Elderflower, The Last Halfbreed

Chapter 2 Arthur Long Shadow

My mind was a blur when I woke up. I noticed the man was deathly pale but I had managed to bind the wound with layers of cloth and stuffed it with herbs from the forest. Now I only had to wait. He had lost a lot of blood and I was surprised that I had stopped most of it. I then noticed the man's face. He had short mangled blond hair that curled around the tips. His jawline was square but also long. He had a long pointy nose and rosy cheeks. He reminded me of someone. Like I had seen him once in my life. I shook the thought away.

His chest rose and fell with each breath. It comforted me knowing he might live.

Every hour I would check up on him and change his bandages. The blood had stopped and his face was regaining some color. Men healed fast. When I knew that he would be fine without me I decided to find some food.

The forest called my name as I walked through the dense trees. I drew my bow. A small doe walked alone as she ate the weeds. It was strange to see a lone doe during spring. By now she must have had some fawn. I closed my eyes and loosened my grip on the string. I heard the whizzing of the arrow and thud into the soft flesh. I grimaced as I heard the noise. I couldn't stand the killing of creatures. Henry once told me that being a halfbreed makes you a family of the animal kind. He said you can talk to them through your mind but they can't say anything to you. I went to the doe and saw the blood coming out of her small frame. Her eyes glowed frantically. She tried to move but she couldn't.

I reached down to the deer and caressed her head. In my head I spoke to her. Do not be afraid little one. Go now and live in peace. I bid thee well. Her eyes slowly fluttered shut. This was what I did when I killed an innocent creature. It pained me greatly but I knew that my life was on the line and so was the man back at my tent.

I gazed up at the stars that night. Wondering to myself how life must have changed back home. I knew at least that by now Henry must have forgiven me. I felt the chill of the night air. Out of habit I reached up and touched the tips of my ears. Still no change. With wonder still on my face, I closed my eyes and dreamed of the white walled city that I called home.

It had been years since I had been there and I could still picture the tall battlements and the white stoned walls. Far off in the distance I saw the keep. Tall and foreboding I felt at ease. Henry gazed from the king's chambers. He looked at ease and for the first time I saw him smile. At least that was what I had pictured in my head at that moment. Seeing my brother finally happy. Atop his head adorned the silver crown. The polished wings grew around the sides of his head. The Great King Crown. I kept thinking and managed to go inside the castle.

I entered the large throne room and there stood a lone figure clad in silver armor. He had short blond hair as far as I could tell. This was a memory that I had remembered so long ago. The figure turned around and I caught his eyes. A startling blue. It was the captain of the guard. Arthur.

I woke up from my dream with a startle. Arthur was the one in my tent. No wonder I had met him before. I had known him for as long as I could remember. I didn't know why I didn't remember his face when he wound up at my camp.

I wondered if I would ever return home. What if something had happened and Arthur was here to warn me? I had no clue. But my insides itched to find out what went wrong. To relieve my anxiety I walked through the forest.

It was a few hours before the sun would finally rise. The stars were still twinkling high in the sky and a pale light began to form on the horizon. My favorite time of day. I huddled closer to the torn blanket around my shoulders as the chill crept in closer. This time of day seemed to awaken me. Henry once told me that the time you feel more alive was the time you were born. I couldn't imagine myself being a early born child. Not yet at least.