Moongrace

Part 44

Four winged individuals landed gently next to them on the clearing. All of them looking at Eleeza compassionately.

"Shall we wake her up?"

Cathryn stirred by the sound of the voice, drawing the attention to herself. She noticed the language and the melody of speech, yet she didn't know the voice. Confused she opened her heavy eyes.

The first thing she saw was the pretty face of a woman – a winged pretty woman.

Quickly she sat up and glanced around. Four fairies were at the clearing. One man was floating above them, watching her curiously. Another man was bending over sleeping Eleeza, a concerned look on his face. A blond-haired woman stood next to him, a hand on his shoulder. And then there was this red-haired beauty looming over her.

"Who are you?", Cathryn asked confused in Acuandela. She wasn't so much afraid, because of the sweet and concerned atmosphere.

"Hi, dear. We have come to help the both of you!" The woman replied kindly and gracefully kneed down next to her.

The man who had been with Eleeza suddenly spun around and approached her: "How do you know our language?", he inquired.

"Erno! Don't be rude. Can't you see how exhausted she is? Be kind to her!" The girl next to him scolded softly.

Cathryn could just stare at them. Fear mixed with amazement.

Eleeza still lay curled up in the mud, oblivious to the little assembly. The exhaustion showed clearly in her slightly haggard face. With her arm covered in blood and her dress barely covering her, she looked very pitiful.

The others must have followed her gaze: "You learned it from her, didn't you? You both were kidnapped by those smugglers, am I right?"

Cathryn simply nodded and turned her face to look at the pretty woman. Green eyes returned her stare friendly.

"Can you tell us what happened? Erno could heal you in the meantime. He is a gifted healer, don't worry."

Again Cathryn nodded, totally baffled by the fairy in front of her.

"I won't heal a human!", the black-haired man who had been so direct before, replied.

"Come on, Erno. She has helped Eleeza through a lot in the last weeks. We do owe her our gratitude. It was our people who kept her captive, not humans!"

That blond woman must be quite influential, because Erno knelt down in front of her without further ado. Cathryn was startled by his very kind blue eyes and a gentle smile: "You will feel a bit funny for a moment, but don't worry. I am an experienced healer and I will make you feel better."

He seemed like a very nice and caring doctor. Nothing in his demeanour gave away his aversion against humans.

Erno closed his eyes and put one hand on her head. She felt a warm sensation running down to her toes, heating up at those parts of her body, that hurt. The scratches on her arms disappeared magically and only faint scars remained. It was over rapidly. Cathryn moved her right leg without feeling any pain: "Thank you!", she exclaimed delighted.

"You're welcome." Erno rose again, pulling her up with him.

"So now, please tell us what has happened. How did they kidnap you and Eleeza? What did they do to you? And how did you manage to escape? What was causing this explosion of magic?" The fairy next to her asked, pulling at a strand of her wavy red hair.

But Cathryn had found her courage again and responded with her previous question: "Could you maybe first tell me who you are? I know I stand no chance against you... but still. It would be nice to know who I am telling all this."

The green-eyed fairy smiled: "Sure, that's understandable. I am Sanaani, an old friend of Eleeza. And the others are her relatives. We tried to have a watchful eye over Eleeza, but some magical shield hid her from our view for weeks."

"Oh! Okay." Cathryn wasn't sure about it, but she decided to trust them. And so, she told them what had happened at the castle and how they got to this place. The others started to ask questions but Cathryn couldn't answer all of them. It was clear that the four were worried for Eleeza.

Erno finally went back to Eleeza, while Cathryn was still being questioned. All fell silent when he kneeled down next to her.

"Eleeza, dear. Wake up!", he called softly and she stirred. He shook her a bit on her shoulder: "Come on! Open your eyes! It's over now. Let me help you!"

Eleeza suddenly snapped her eyes wide open as a memory painfully forced itself in her consciousness. She recognized this voice. She had heard it before, even the same words.
She didn't hear Erno ask about her eyes and what had happened to them. Not even, when he asked Cathryn who didn't know much either.

The memory in her mind is a horrible one: She is caged in a small alcove, her hands clutching the bars before her. She is unable to think as one memory after another faded from her mind. People are gathered in front of her, starring intensely at her. An unmeasurable pain is in her head, she can hear herself screaming. One face is very close to her. A guy with a very nice face speaks to her: "It will be over soon. The pain will fade. Let me help you..."

It is the same voice. Utter horror fills her.

Trembling she pushes him away, getting on her feet: "I know you! Let me be! Go away!" She staggered around the tree behind her, barely able to keep upright. Her strength left her, but adrenaline pushed her further: "Cathryn, we must go! Immediately!"

But strong hands gripped her at her shoulders and turned her back to face him. She shivered, the pain he had caused vivid in her mind.

"Eleeza, I am no enemy! We are here to help you!"

Only then she realised, that there were five people breathing on the clearing. Her strength left her and she swayed under the steady grip: "You were one of those who kept me in that alcove. You helped erase my memories! How dare you tell me that you want to help me!"

She heard all of them suck in air.

"If you remember this, you might as well remember that I am you cousin Erno. Back then I tried to keep the level of pain down – to help you!", Erno replied in a soft voice.

"Well even if you did, it didn't help." She pushed herself out of his grip and stepped back. But then she couldn't stand no longer and sunk to the floor. How could she fight yet another enemy? She was so tired. Why couldn't she just go home to Evan? Another tear shimmered in her eyes.

"Let me please close your wounds!", Erno asked persistently and Eleeza felt the magic rise.

"Don't you dare enchant me!", she screamed and called magic to herself. With it she formed a protective ball of magic which exploded around her.

She was now inside a softly blue gleaming bubble – an image you would never forget, if you would have been there. Imagine the most beautiful winged girl with glowing skin and flying hair in a bubble of blue light.

Everybody was surprised by her reaction, Cathryn though more by the magic.