Liridia

Chapter 33: The Truth

Hywel
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I slump to the floor, my head throbbing horridly, and I gingerly touch my temples.

She's back.
With one more in tow.

I open my eyes one by one, and I catch the raven haired girl wrapping her arms around Aldwin. His sister. I look over and I see Liona, laying still as if dead, looking at me, her eyes filled with disgust and sadness.

She turns her head back to the ceiling and I stumble towards her, my knees shaking and my teeth clattering together as if it is cold.

"What's the matter with her?! What's wrong?!" I shout, practically dragging myself to her. Aldwin and his sister both let go each other and he races over to her side, his hand feeling her brow for possible fever.

I reach her side, only to watch as she slips away, her lashes fluttering and her body limp.

"What happened to her?!" I demand frantically, holding her cold, slack hand in my own warm one to let her know I'm here.

The girl stands over us and pushes her hair back away from her face. She looks so much Aldwin, I wouldn't be surprised if they were twins.

"She fought her mother, on a golden two winged beast, and she said she could not move, so I had to drag her out. The battle nearly killed her, she was so weak. Did you know she was a witch? Because I don't even know her name and I'm so confused and amazed and-"  She gushes hurriedly, feeling her neck for a pulse.

"Faint, but alive. She needs a doctor, now." She cuts herself off.

Aldwin slides his hands under her knees and shoulders before I can object, and he makes his way to the infirmary. His sister closely follows behind, and I close the door behind us, running to keep up with Aldwin's long, hurried strides.

Aldwin pushes open the door and rushes her to a cot. I kneel by her side and take her hand in mine once again.

"What has happened to her?" The doctor calmly asked.

"None of us know, we were coming for a meeting, and we sent Hywel here to check if she was coming still. He found her like this on the floor." Aldwin improvised, pointing at her body for emphasis.

Two nurses rushed over and one felt for a pulse while the other shone a beam of light reflected off a window pane into her eyes.

"Unresponsive. Pupils slightly dilated." One nurse reported.

"Has a pulse, but she's going, fast." The other called to the doctor which emerged from the attached room. He perched his small round glasses on the tip of his nose and leant forward.

His hushed mutterings to himself made me want to scream, and I sat back worriedly as he felt her side and neck and wrists for any sign of life.

"There is not much we can do, I'm afraid. We can pray, however." He said sombrely, his hands coming together and his eyes closing in a prayer.

"Dear Versiim, Goddess of all things Holy and Righteous, we ask of you to spare this woman of your brother's hellish touch, for she is of vital importance to the finding of justice for Queen Kiida's passing into the other side.

I do not know this woman, yet as I have sworn my oath to save those who can be saved, I will try to help her back into the light of day. I only ask that you help me in my struggles, now and forever more, Amen." And he got to work. He pushed his glasses up a little further on the bridge of his nose and Aldwin moved to stand beside me, placing a reassuring hand upon my shoulder.