Ring of Power

Chapter 15: The River Luna

     In the morning, they gathered their gear and headed off.  They both knew they were close to Elensdor so it seemed like the pace was much quicker than before. 
     Soon, they reached the River Luna.  It was 20 yards from one bank to the other with no sign of a bridge or raft nearby.  The water was raging and was too fast for them to swim across and make it to the other bank safely.   
     "How are we going to cross?" Xavier asked, looking at the water fearfully. 
     "Well--" Emerald contemplated the question, "I guess we swim."
     "SWIM?!?!  We will drown before we reach the other bank!  We won't make it!"
     "Well if we don't then we are stuck here.  We don't have enough time to build a raft and there is no bridge for miles, if there is even one at all!"
     "I refuse!  I'm staying right here!" Xavier went and sat under a giant oak, determined not to leave.
      "Suit yourself." Emerald shrugged and head for the swift water in the river.
      She started to wade in the water.  When the water reached her knees, it started to pull at her legs.  She stumbled a few times and started to regret her decision, but if they made a raft they wouldn't even cross the river until the next day at the earliest.  Then they would still have to finish their journey to Elensdor. 
      Xavier saw Emerald swaying in the water.  He knew it was a death wish to swim across that river, but he couldn't just sit here and watch her die.
      He got up and headed toward the river bank.  Emerald looked up at him when he stepped into the icy water behind her.  She smiled at him and he put his hand up, not wanting her to say a word.  She just looked away grinning.
     They slowly waded together until the water got too deep to walk in.  Emerald looked at Xavier and gave him a nervous smile, he returned it and they went under in unison. 
      Once their feet were in the water instead of walking on the bottom, it was harder to maintain control of their bodies.  They were not holding on to anything so it was easier to be swept away in the current. 
     Xavier was strong and could keep his body moving under the push and pull of the rapid water.  He was almost to the shore when he heard a yelp behind him.  He turned to see Emerald's head quickly disappeared under the water and get carried away. 
     Xavier jumped toward where he saw Emerald disappear and went under the water, letting the river take him in the same direction as it took her. He saw her body slowly sinking.  He quickly got to her and pulled her to the surface and found he was really close to the shore.  He pushed hard and grabbed on to a thick root in the shoreline. 
      He hoisted Emerald up onto the bank and got out of the water next to her.  He went to her side and opened her mouth.  Water came rushing out and he couldn't feel a heartbeat.
     "Emerald," He said, with no reply, "EMERALD!"
     He gently shook her shoulders, trying to get her to open her eyes and wake up.
     She laid there, silent.  Xavier picked up a rock and threw it into the river as a tear rolled down his cheek.
     Why was life so cruel?  She was trying to save it and it took her away from him.  He got up and kicked the dirt, angry this happened.  He sat back down next to her and rubbed her cheek with his hand.
     As Xavier looked into Emerald's eyes, they opened.
     His face lit up and he smiled wide.  She was okay!  Before he could think he leaned over and hugged her tight, never wanting to let go again.
     "Never do that again." Xavier said, looking at her with relief. 
     "I guess you were right, it was dangerous." Emerald replied, smiling at him.  She noticed the tear on his rosy cheek and smiled brighter.
     Xavier picked her up and carried her to a small clearing close to the path.  He laid her down and told her to rest. At first she refused, but as he insisted she complied.  He then went and gathered some dry wood for a fire and then slept as well.
     When he woke he looked over at Emerald.  She was still fast asleep in her cloak.  He smiled and started a small fire in the setting sun.  He knew she wouldn't like that he let her sleep so late, but after their trying day, she needed it.
     Just as the sun set in the horizon, Emerald awoke to the warmth of the small fire.  She noticed it was dark and looked to Xavier.  She opened her mouth to speak, but he raised his hand.
     "I know you're upset about the lost time, but you needed rest and I wasn't going to wake you." He said, stopping all her questions before she could ask them.  She smiled and looked into the bright flames of the fire.
     Xavier prepared their dinner tonight and they ate quietly.  He thought about Emerald's close call at the river bank and wondered what he would have done if she would not have made it.  He wasn't sure if would be able to live without her.
     They soon finished and went on their way in the dark.  Emerald lead the way, as always, but soon she dropped back next to Xavier.
     "Thank you." She said, breaking the silence and surprising Xavier.
     "It was nothing, really." He started to blush and was glad the dark hid his face.
     "Nothing?  Saving my life wasn't nothing."
     "I guess now you can say we're even."
     Emerald looked away and went back to leading the way.  She knew it was more than that and smiled at the thought.  She wondered if when they got to Elensdor and she found the ring if he would leave, or if he would stay and they would become even closer.
     Emerald hoped that it would be the latter.