Constant

Chapter 17

(Peter)

He watched as Lydia tried to hide a large yawn behind her hand. It had been a long night and even though she had pretended to be asleep Peter could tell that she had been awake for most of the night unable to relax. She thought that Ruben would be there at any moment. She saw danger lurking behind every turn and tree trunk. Peter couldn't blame her. After everything that she had told him it was a wonder that she could even make it through each day without falling apart. She had suffered a lot in her short life. 

"We should be there soon," Peter said as he rode up next to her on his horse. He hoped that the news would lift her spirits.  

"That's good," She replied as she shifted in the saddle. They had their own horses and their few belongings were stowed in the saddle bags. She didn't have much. Lydia flinched at the sound of a stick crunching beneath the large hooves of the horse she was riding. Her cheeks flushed red when she noticed that Peter was watching her. 

He wanted to tell her that it was alright and that she didn't need to be afraid but he knew that it wouldn't make any difference. She had learned to be afraid. That was how she had stayed alive. 

"Perhaps Susan will prepare a large feast for us in our honor when we arrive," He said trying to distract her again.

"Who is Susan?" 

It was then that he realized that he hadn't told her much about where they were going. Peter started talking about his friends in Chedix. He wanted her to know about the family that they were going back to. His family. He told Lydia about Ellie and Ben and how they had met and what had happened to them when Ellie had been taken by Roderick. Peter spoke about the wars and the twins. He spoke of childhood memories back when he was growing up with Ben. 

Peter knew that she was listening so he kept talking. Any story that came to his mind was shared just so they didn't have to travel in silence. He told her about the children and how amazing he thought they were. When she laughed after one of his stories he knew that she was paying attention. 

"It sounds like paradise. Why would you ever leave that place?" She asked interrupting him and he immediately thought about blonde hair and dark blue eyes. He didn't know how she would react to his story about Ryah and he didn't want to tell her. He didn't want her to question him or think that he didn't want to be with her. Ryah had moved on and she was with Torin. Peter knew that. As he looked over at Lydia he realized that he had moved on too. 

"I left because I needed a change," He said with a smile. It was mostly true. Lydia returned his smile which told him that she had believed him. 

Peter knew that going to Chedix was the right thing. Nobody would know Lydia's past there. It would be a fresh start for them. She wouldn't have people watching her in the street and seeing her as the daughter of a drunk. People wouldn't see her as the little girl in dirty clothes covered with bruises. People wouldn't look down at their feet as she walked by because they were too ashamed to look her in the eyes. 

Chedix would be the perfect place for them to begin their lives together. 

<<<><><>>>

(Lydia)

I felt my mouth drop open as I looked at the village in front of us. I wasn't seeing the paradise that Peter had described. The village looked as though it had barely survived an attack. There were freshly turned graves with dark soil heaped up in mounds. I looked at Peter and his expression was a mirror of my own. 

"What happened?" I asked him even though I knew that he wouldn't know the answer. 

He didn't reply as he spurred his horse forward. I followed closely behind him. All around us were signs of a battle. The charred remains of houses were along the side of the street. Their dark frames stood like skeletons. The houses that were still standing had doors kicked in and shattered windows. Fences were torn over and gardens had been destroyed.