The Sword of Dreams

Chapter 5

The sword reflected its shimmer each time the lightning lit up the sky. She shook, not from the cold, but it seemed like in fear or apprehension. She looked like she was so close to the sword but it looked as if she hadn’t seen it in some time. She was well within the storms wrath, and it seemed like it could sense her presence and attempt to strike her at any second. It didn’t even notice I was watching, I didn’t even feel like I was getting wet anymore. I held my breath in apprehension and in sympathy, as she looked like she had forgotten to breathe, as her mouth, nose and chest weren’t moving and she suddenly took three deep, quick breaths. The ground shook. The storm had heard. I let out a faint whimper, I desperately wanted to help her. Whoever or whatever was controlling the storm had a keen ear and a strong sense of her presence. She silently crouched, her eyes not moving from the spot that her sword lay. The forest looked the same in ever around her and it would be so easy to mistake direction, especially in the dead of the night and in the middle of a storm. The lightning had slowed, the flashes becoming not as bright, the thunder not nearly as loud. It was weakening and now was Zoes’ chance. Even as I write this now, by the safety of my campfire, it still seems like a blur.  She stepped out of the sinkhole that the rain and mud had made around her feet. She had to move quickly, quietly but in full alert. She could have mistaken the weakening storm as a trick to make her move, so she waited a few more minutes to make sure.

And then she ran.

Oh my god, it was a trick. The thunder rumbled deep and at a distance first, but it quickly become louder and closer. Zoe ran. I think I may have screamed, but it didn’t help.

It seemed like as soon as she had her sword again she be in control. Whatever the powers of the sword, they could get her out of this mess. The trees shook above my head and the leaves flew everywhere. I felt like the storm knew I was there and was giving me a quick warning to stay where I was. I think I was frozen in fear anyway.  Zoe had about seven leaves stuck to the back of her head. They looked like they were stinging nettle which would be burning her skin. Zoe’s foot got stuck under the root of a tree and she went toppling down. I went to get up, as she screamed in agony, her cover blown, the storm knew exactly where she was. A branch fell from a tree above my head and I backed away, I simply couldn’t help her. The sword was about 2 metres in front of her in the mud, she crawled, ankle throbbing, head burning, body heavy with mud. It wasn’t really crawling; he arms were doing most of the work, dragging her body through the undergrowth. She was in so much pain. She clasped onto the blade of the sword, and pulled the sword closer to her body, careful not to cut herself, she reached the handle of the blade. It would have been instant relief not only because it seemed like she had lost it, but because she had fought the storm and won. She held it towards the sky.

Suddenly it was calm.

I didn’t even realise my mouth was open. The sword controlled and stopped the storm! I was amazed, shocked, but so pleased that I had ventured out. No wonder John hadn’t said a word to the prince. A sword that could control the weather and stop a fierce thunderstorm? What else could it possibly do?

Zoe looked exhausted in the distance, and her eyes suddenly became heavy. I knew she had to rest, and I got out my notebook and began to write my log of the day’s events. John would be so happy to hear that I had found her, that she had the sword, and she knew how to use it. Zoe was soon asleep, and I soon found a light slumber, keeping my ears open for any sudden movement from her. I was lost in the woods with no stars visible from the forest floor. She was my only way out.