Memory in the End

Chapter 17: Unexpected Comforting

That night, we take turns watching over Michael and taking care of him. Ivan doesn't say much the whole evening, and goes straight to sleep after his shift. I"m not sure if he's like Henry, or if his quietness is from something else. Owyne insists for me to sleep, but I stubbornly shake my head and tell him to go rest. He'd been carrying Michael while we were traveling until we could find a place to camp for the night. They're all tired from fighting as well. Watching Michael is the least I could do...

The only light is from the fire, and the area around us is dim. Kneeling beside Michael, a million thoughts run through my mind. That scene of Michael jumping in front of me and being struck keeps playing over and over in my head. I know that he should be okay. But his breathing is so soft, that sometimes I would hold my own breath just so I could hear his, or I would watch for his chest to rise up and down, just to reassure myself that he's still alive. I pull my knees up to my chest, wrapping my arms around them and clenching my wrists tightly. Michael is in this state now because he tried to protect me. Every time I think this, I can't help but feel at fault for Michael getting hurt. If I could just defend myself, if I could become stronger so that Michael wouldn't have to worry about me so much, then maybe this could have been prevented. My throat feels tight; it hurts. I shut my eyes tightly. Please wake up, Michael. Please be okay. Tell me that you're okay.

"You have the nerve to pull off such an upset face?"

A sudden voice cuts through the silent night air, startling me. Looking up, I see Henry's short stature, lit up by the fire to make his glare look even more menacing. I turn my head away. As dismayed as I was, Henry's attitude only served to annoy me.

"Don't worry about gracing me with your presence and go back to sleep. Your shift isn't until later," I mutter.

He plops himself down on the other side of Michael, directly across from me. He sits cross legged and rests his elbow on his knee, propping his head on his hand. He stares at Michael. "I'd sleep if I could. I'm worried too you know..." he sighs, "We all are. He's our leader after all." My eyes shift to Henry's face, which is in a grimace. He gives me another glare, "He's like this because he tried to protect you."

I turned back to look at Michael. For a moment Henry actually seemed vulnerable, but that feeling disappeared quickly. "You don't think I know that?" I say, "It makes me angry."

"It makes me angry too. You annoy me a lot. You depend on our powers so much, and Michael is always shielding you-"

"I know!" I raise my voice, and then soften it so as not to disturb the others, "I know. I know how weak I am. I thought I had gotten stronger, but...I could barely keep up with Xenia. Michael has protected me throughout this entire journey, and I want to be able to protect him too. But today I faced the reality that I can't. And it makes me angry...Not only him, but you all have given your powers to help me, and I can't even give anything in return." I struggle to keep any tears forming at bay. Crying in front of Henry would only cause more trouble, I feel.

He's silent for a long time. He probably didn't care to hear my rambling.

Then, he suddenly speaks up...

"Well it's not like it's entirely your fault," he mumbles and clears his throat, "There was something strange in that battle."

Strange? "Oh, that rod..." I respond. That metal rod that had absorbed Michael's powers and increased them as they were shot back. Where did Xenia get that? Did such a thing exist this whole time?

"I never knew of any such weapon that could be used to fight us," Henry says, "We'll have to be more cautious in our fights."

Not even the Five know how to counter this new ominous weapon. If they can't fight against it, every battle in the future would be a struggle, and there's always the chance of one of them becoming even more gravely injured. I can't bear to see Michael in this state again, or one of the Five injured. But what could I do? Against a weapon that can fight against the strength of the legendary Magnificent Five...I have to get stronger. So that I can protect the Five, and help this as much as they're helping me, "I'm going to get stronger, Henry. And you won't be able to say I'm a burden anymore."

Henry stared at me and then stood up, "I never said you were a burden." He brushed off the dirt from his clothes and then looked up at me with a smirk, "But you should set an easier goal for yourself if you think you can get strong enough to try and defend one of us. A princess like you shouldn't try so hard." He turned and walked away, waving a half-hearted "goodnight"

I stuck my tongue out at him, "I'll show you."

I turned my attention back to Michael, who was still sleeping soundly. All this time, I had been so confident in my abilities. Even if I wasn't as invincible as the Five, I thought that I could still hold my own. Today, the blunt reality was thrown at me that as I was now, facing Victor would be putting not only my life in danger, but the lives of the Five as well. From now on, I refuse to be a burden to them. I might not have powers like them, but in our next fight with Xenia, I will overpower her completely. And I will have the strength to protect everyone that I care about.

My hand rests on top of Michael's. Once again, I watched for his chest to rise and fall. Waiting for him to wake up is all I can do for now. But, Michael, I swear that this will never happen to you again. Neither will it happen to Aru, or Owyne, or Ivan, or even Henry. I won't let anymore people get harmed. As a princess, I promise this.

I glanced up at his peaceful sleeping face.

As a person whom has seen all the kindness of the Magnificent Five, I swear by this.  

******************************

A short chapter, but with a bit of feels in it. 

Henry's new to this "being nice to Arrabella" thing, but he did pretty good don't you think?

Until next time,

H