When Fate Strikes

Chapter 3

Shaking hands awoke me from my peaceful slumber. I opened my eyes to see Seth’s face hovering over me.

“Seth.” I say, pushing myself up onto my elbow.  “Why are you here? Is there something wrong?”

“No nothing is wrong.” She answered my question. “I came to talk to you about before, when you interrupted me at the bridge. “ Really? Did she really wake me in the middle of the night to talk to me about this matter?

“Go back to bed, Seth. We will talk about this later.” I say, settling myself down among my pillows.

“Bed? Ireth it’s already five in the morning!” she laughed at me as I moaned into my covers. She is always the early riser, whereas I prefer to sleep in.

“Get up you sleepy head!” she said.  When I made no move to get out of my comfy bed, she started tickling me on my belly.

“Hey!” I laughed uncontrollably, “Get off, get off! Ok ok ok I’ll get up!” I yelled.  “As for what you were saying before, I don’t understand what was wrong with me interrupting you! Apart from the impoliteness of it, or course. “I tell her.

“I was just wondering why you were trying to get the heat off Eryn.” She said. “All I was going to say was that I didn’t believe what he said. Don’t you want to know what he meant?”

“No, not in front of everyone.” I shot back, “what if it was personal and something he wanted to say to me privately! It could’ve ended very differently if I had not butted in.”

“Ireth.” Seth groaned profusely, “what did you think he was going to say? That he hates you and was hoping that you would leave the Fellowship?” She asked this sarcastically, but it still stung. I hung my head and slumped on the bed.

“No, I rather hoped he would not say that.” I replied, “Which is why I interrupted before he could.

“Oh, “she gasped as she realised what she’d said. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for it come like that.”

“It’s ok,” I gently push myself off the bed and go behind the changing partition, which stood in the corner of the room, to swap my bedclothes for my short, long-arm dress, tights, leather breastplate and knee-high boots. I was tying on my arm guards as I stepped out from behind the partition. I gasped as I saw my friend rocking herself gently on my bed, tears rolling down her face. I moved to her side quickly and enveloped her in my arms.

“Seth,” I say, “What’s wrong?” My friend never really cried.

“I don’t want you to go.” She said in between sobs, “I’m afraid I might lose you and then I’ll have no friends.”

“Oh Seth, do not worry over me.” I said trying to sound reassuring. “Besides, you still have Laith.” She nods into my chest.

“I would’ve thought he would’ve gone with you.” She said.

“Maybe,” I agreed, “but he has other things he has to worry about.” I lifted her chin up and winked at her.