Burning Heart [DenNor] Short-Fic

Burning Heart

"I don't know how much longer I can hide this, Matt.... "

Lukas let his head roll back, hitting the wall as his lover sat in a wooden chair near the window, a frown adorning his face. "I know, Luke, I know...."

Witchcraft was said to be an evil treachery, those who were caught or accused of doing so were sentenced to death, usually being tied to a tall wooden pole in the middle of the town square, throat slit, and then burned until nothing remained.

Lukas has been accused many times, but he had someone on his side. Matthias, the town blacksmith, a well respected man that got along with everyone. Oh, Lukas doesn't know how many times the Dane has saved him from the toll of the bell.

But, all luck runs out.

~~~

"I'm going to go collect some herbs... I'll be back soon."

Lukas closed the door before his lover could give his reply, the Norwegian starting his trek to the river, where lush plants grew along the bank. He pulled the hood more over his head, half hiding his face. He knew the townsfolk were wary of him. Just because Matthias had denied that Lukas was a 'warlock', or 'witch', he knew they were watching his every move.

When he arrived to the fast flowing river, he let out a sigh of relief. The smells of the forest and water always calmed him, making him forget all his worries. He began picking herbs, humming to himself, looking over the plants closely.

That is, until he heard a yell, followed by a splash.

Lukas' head shot up, looking around the clearing he was in. Nothing out of the ordinary... so where did the splash come from..?

The small man stood up, bag of herbs forgotten, and started walking towards the river. As he reached the bank, he stifled a gasp as he saw a little girl barely flailing in the water, her head already submerged.

How was he going to get her out? The water was still, so she wouldn't drift to the bank. He fisted his palms, wondering if he should use it.

No one was around.

Making up his mind, he wadded into the water to knee deep, muttering words under his breath. The water started to quicken, the current catching the girl and making her float to him.

When the girl reached the bank, Lukas quickly pulled the girl out of the river, half-dragging half-carrying the girl to dryer land.

He mentally panicked when she wasn't breathing. He started pushing down on her chest, trying to get precious air back into her lungs. She didn't respond.

He tried mouth-to-mouth. The girl didn't respond to that either. It had been twenty minutes since he pulled her from the water, and she still Mages there, motionless and dead.

Lukas grabbed his hair, tugging at it slightly.

Oh no....

His heart leapt into his threat when he heard many footsteps coming upon him, and a females voice shout, "She fell in over here..!"

Lukas started panicking. Should he run? No, it was too late to run. The townsfolk were nearly there. He froze, looking back at the trail that led to the river.... his spell was still going.

How could he have been so careless?!

His breathing quickened, and he realized some of the villagers had seen the abnormal water, rushing in one spot.

"What teh heck?"

"That's abnormal..!"

"Look! It's that witch guy..!"

Lukas whirled around. Nearly half the townsfolk were there, and his breath stopped when he saw Matthias come up front, stopping when he saw Lukas.

Still hovering over the dead girl.

The man at the front looked enraged. "I knew it! That monster killed Annabelle..! He must have kept her under the water long enough to let her drown..!"

The other townsfolk yelled their agreement, but Lukas' eyes were on one person. Matthias was looking at him in confusion and horror. "Luke...?"

Oh gods.

He didn't really believe he killed Anna, did he?!

Lukas opened his mouth to say something, but Matthias turned his head away, looking betrayed and horrified. All his senses seemed to have left him then, because he didn't realize as a few of the townsfolk men grabbed him roughly, dragging him back towards the town as the women fell beside fallen Annabelle, weeping and grieving.

The men carried Lukas to the town square, roughly pushing him up against the wooden pole in the center of the plaza. Lukas let out a pained gasp, his eyes scanned the now forming crowd. Matthias was standing at the front of the crowd, his eyes on the ground, as if he couldn't even look at his lover. Past lover, now?

Lukas grimaced as the men tied rope around his ankles and wrists, bounding him to the pole. The man who had first spoke Annabelle's name faced the crowd, shouting:

"I've waited a long time to see this monster on a pole... This man killed sweet little Annabelle, who was the charmer of the town. She did not deserve to be brutally," Lukas flinched, "murdered like a piece of meat! He used his witchcraft to change the tide of the water, causing Annabelle to have no chance! This monster will pay for his Witchcraft, with his ashes adorning the ground!"

The townsfolk cheered.

Matthias looked up, meeting Lukas' eyes.

The man took a small, slender pocket knife from one of the other villagers, along with a small match.

Lukas was deep in thought, on how he could make Matthias see that he didn't kill Anna. That it wasn't what it looked like. The idea came sudden and rash, but it was an idea nonetheless.

Lukas muttered one last word under his breath. He hoped that by sending his memories to the Dane, that he would understand.

The man with the knife walked closer to Lukas.

Matthias suddenly reeled back, as if he had been flicked in the forehead. That's when the vision flashed before him.

Lukas using his magic to change to current, to pull Annabelle to the shore.

Lukas trying to give life back to the girls lungs.

The pain when he turned away from him.

"Oh, what have I done..." Matthias whispered, realization and regret crossing his face.

The man put the dagger to the pale throat of the Norwegian.

Matthias felt everything go slow motion. The shouts from the crowd. His own body start to move. His eyes, on Lukas's face as the Norwegian smiled, knowing that the Dane understood.

He man slid the dagger across the delicate skin.

Red splattered the ground, and the plaza went went up in flames.

~~~

This came suddenly.... sorry for my depressing streak. :L

I like this tho-