Born with Sunrise

Chapter 7

Chapter 7

With her arm over her eyes, she furrowed her brow. The words were somehow familiar, and yet she most definitely did not recognise the language or know what the words were that were spoken to her. She really did not have the energy to try and work out this riddle right now. What she needed was to be left alone to try and wallow in her own self-pity as this pain was going nowhere fast. Yet she found whoever this new comer was, he was increasingly talkative and seemed to take no notice at all of the condition she was in. The one thing she knew was that he must be from the same place as the other male as the accents were similar no matter the language that they spoke. Groaning once more, she tried to find a more comfortable position for her head, but no matter how she lay, her head throbbed painfully.

That was until she was lifted bodily, sounds and a familiar voice filing in as she realised she must have let herself succumb to sleep. Trying to hold onto whatever was left in her stomach, she kept her eyes closed tightly and turned her face into the large chest on her right to block out the light trying to worm its way into her mind. With a small groan she let the darkness of oblivion overtake her once more.

Hagen could not take his eyes from the woman as she lay so still before him, the words tripped from his tongue. Not that he would be able to tell anyone later what he said to her, for his thoughts were jumbled in a mess. But it was as if there was need within him to make sure this was real by talking his way through this situation. She seemed not to recognise the words he spoke and he was not overly surprised by such, but the softness of his words was new to him and he hoped she could hear the sincerity in his tone if not the words themselves. He spoke of foolish little events from his life, events that were of no consequence to anyone but him and the ones who were with them at the time.

He spoke more freely with her than he had with anyone in a very long year. Many years in fact. But as she became a little restless, he instinctually began to recite a poem he had long thought forgotten, just a little ditty that parents used to send their children to sleep on a restless night. It came to him from a time long forgotten and was quite a surprise to himself. But he was especially pleased with himself when he noticed her breathing even and her restless movements still. Her arms fell from her face leaving her pale complexion now open for his full inspection. What he saw stilled his breath with the likeness he saw before him. She was most definitely her own person, the image new, but ever so familiar to him. It was as if the best features of both had been placed together in the most perfect of ways.

The gentle lines of cheek and nose held a regal pose, the small flush of blush upon her cheek coming forth as she slept. Her paleness in contrast to the more tanned skin of those around her. To him it was more than obvious as to who she was, he could feel the emotion blooming within him, just from begin within her presence once more. The softness towards her, which shone from within him was something he remembered faintly from a boy he knew long ago, whom was still buried deep within. Had spent the last years longing within him, a longing which had meant all other positive emotions had been stifled and only his warrior part thrived, knowing it would be needed if he was ever to find her again.

This was the reason that he had taken this mission. That boy within him that had sheltered away all the emotions which had been brought forth with meeting a tiny babe. That boy had screamed at him to go on this journey that something he wanted was within his reach. The rest of him had let the seed of hope reign, even as he tried to stunt it. But never had he truly believed that before him would be that babe full grown, alive and so well before him. Even if she was suffering under the blow of Rangvald, who had a strong arm for sure. He would have to have physical words with Rangvald over that. Aye, he had had no idea who she truly was, and he was not even sure she knew herself. But it did not change that facts and Rangvald was going to know of what he truly thought about the actions.

Not caring a wit that the women she had known for the majority of her life were watching him with interest and aye there was some fear there as well. He reached out and gently stroked over the arch of her cheek bone, taking a hold of a small lock of hair which had tried to cling to the softest of skin. He did not blame it, for a simple touch and he was envious of a lock of hair, and he knew just how foolish that was, but these emotions were so new to him once more. He would have to use the training of his warrior sills in order to contain them, but this one moment he would allow himself, even if she was unaware if it. For he knew that when she awoke he would have the battle of his life on his hands to convince her of who he was to her. Hagen could feel the strong will she held within her even with even with her in her slumberous state. His thumb traced her lower lip, closing his eyes, he let the oneness reign within him, realising that whilst he had known he was half a man without her for the majority of his life, it was only now finding her once more. That the actuality of how much of an impact it had had upon him was made obvious.

"What is he doing?" The shocked raised voice brought him back to his surroundings, never in his years as a warrior had he not been aware of those around him. Though he could not say either he or his woman was in any danger whilst his mind had wandered. Turning his head he noticed the shrew from earlier that had stood up so valiantly against Rangvald, but her voice did irritate so with how high it had become. She reached him in a few hurried steps. "What are you doing? Do not touch my daughter?" She even went as far as to reach out to touch. Something that Rangvald did not permit. He managed to take a hold of her before she reached Hagen. "I would deeply suggest that you do not touch m'lord here. He is very much a man who does as he wishes, and whatever you plan to do is not going to win." Rangvald whispered it so the surrounding women could not hear, but Hagen heard every word clearly.

"Do you have the healing herbs required?" Hagen looked to Rangvald and not to the woman he held. Rangvald nodded in assent. Hagen made a snap decision. He looked towards the woman whom had tried to defend the woman whose hair he still had wrapped around his finger. "This will not be done here. Where can we take her that she can be healed in private?" The woman looked stunned that he spoke her language so well, before she managed to find her tongue once more. "If you would follow me, I can show you a place." She swallowed audibly at the end, before turning to look upon Rangvald as if he were completely beneath her. Without a flick of an eye Hagen turned and gently picked up the woman who slumbered before him, holding her as he would a babe, and feeling only as if she weighed as much.

As she was moved he felt her grumble and move, he tried his best to make sure she was not jostled too much. But he could not stop himself from holding her a little closer, smiling a little as he shushed her and she settled more firmly against him. Her head turned into his chest to block the light, until she final took one deep breath and settled back into a healing slumber. Following in the wake of Rangvald and the older woman, he was peppered with questions from the elder, while he ignored most, there was one part to it all which he could not allow to continue. "Woman, I have no problem with your questions for what you ask is in concern for the one I carry. But I have to insist that you stop calling her your daughter when we both know that she is not." His voice had not been loud, in fact it was so soft only Rangvald and the elder woman would have been able to hear him. Yet it was as if he had let loose with his warrior battle cry, she froze in place, before turning with wide terrified eyes to look upon him. Her mouth quivered and seemed unable to speak for a moment, her face draining of all colour.

"You cannot know that." The whisper was stunned, was utterly quiet, yet there was pain there as well. "You do? How can you know?" Hagen stood taller, knowing that Rangvald would make sure that no one could over hear them. "I know, because I am the one who has been searching for her from the moment she was taken."