Inexperienced Heart

Chapter 21: Gross!

Landa woke up to find Logan, the rabbits, and the wizard huddled around her. She rose up and asked, "What happened?"

"Rest, Landa," Galadriel said, trying to push her back down.

"No, I'm fine," she protested.

"Are you sure?"

"Positive."

"Not much happened," the wizard started. "The Agogsims were playing with you and the balloons you had, you let go of. When there were only a couple balloons left, I knew I had to do something, so I threw the rope. Then, we had to run. The balloons were all gone. Even though Logan started dribbling the ball again, I think the Agogsims realized they had been tricked. I saw one of them open the box and count the bottles. Then, he let out a loud, angry growl. Thankfully, we made it in time. Because the Agogsims pursued us, we hurried. When we reached the chute, there was a ladder we climbed that led to the world above. Then, we slammed the door shut and placed the dirt onto the door, so as not to leave any evidence in sight."

"But how did I survive? You said if the Agogsims bite you, you die instantly," questioned Landa.

"The Agogsims did not bite you. They gently touched you with their mouths," answered Galadriel.

"Has Logan taken the medicine yet?" Landa inquired.

Everyone shook their heads. Logan took out the Bottle of Bliss. It was clear in color. He read the directions aloud. "This clear liquid will clear your mind. Drink it all and you will feel the bliss of mankind."

"Clever. Is Palson a poet?" Landa asked sarcastically.

No one answered. Instead, Galadriel told Logan to drink the liquid. He put the bottle to his lips and took a tiny sip. He couged and spluttered violently.

"Ugh!" he muttered. "It's horribe! Why is it called the Bottle of Bliss? It makes you feel worse, not better!" He put the bottle down and watched his hand, waiting for it to transform.

"Drink," ordered Galadriel. Logan glared at him, picked up the bottle, and took a big mouthful, but spit it back out immediately, aiming towards Galadriel.

"Drink," repeated the wizard.

"You try drinking this!" answered Logan angrily, thrusting the bottle in the wizard's face.

"You will die if you don't drink it," responded the wizard logically. Logan closed the bottle and refused to drink it.

Landa lay wide awake in the middle of the night. She wondered where her parents were. She had not seen them for a week. She wanted to introduce them to Galadriel Zatanna.

But worst of all, she was worried about Logan. His week was up. He only had an hour left to live if he would not drink the medicine. The clock was not stopping to give him more time; it continued counting down. Tick-tock. Tick-tock. Tick-tock.

The last week had been a hard one for Landa. Logan was really sullen and did not want to talk to anyone. When everyone was together, it was painful for her to watch all the glares Logan gave to Galadriel. Galadriel was helping them and Logan did not respond with gratitude, but with hate and contempt.

With half an hour left for Logan to live, Landa was determined to do something. She didn't know what, but she did not want to lose her friend. She quietly got out of bed and crept to Logan's room in her nightgown. To her surprise, she found the door unlocked. She walked into his room and closed the door behind her. She searched for the light switch, found it, and turned it on.

What she saw horrified her! Logan had his eyes closed, but Landa doubted he was asleep. He was deathly pale. He had beads of perspiration running down his whole body. She wondered why he had not bothered to uncover himself. Landa heard that he was having a great difficulty in breathing properly; his breathing was heavy, laboured, and it came in little short gasps. The sight made Landa want to cry, but she restrained.

Landa took off the blankets covering him and placed them on the floor.

"Landa," she heard a faint voice calling her. His voice was so faint and weak. Landa placed her hand on his forehead to remove the sweat, but noticed something else. His whole body, though covered in sweat, felt cold, cold as ice. Landa quickly removed her hand. Landa reached out for the Bottle of Bliss on the desk next to his bed, but was interrupted by an urgent plea saying, "No!"

"Logan!" Landa said sternly. She looked at Logan with sympathy. He looked so pathetic and weak, on the verge of death.

"No, you must not die!" Landa ordered him.

"Landa, you go on. Go and finish Palson. You can even marry Roco. I don't care. But before I go, I must-"

"Stop, Logan!" Landa cried. "Don't talk like this! How can you talk about me marrying Roco right now? You look like him now. So pale!" That put a faint smile on Logan's face. Landa grabbed one of Logan's hands in her own, despite the icy chill she felt.

"Roco is like a brother to me. Plus, how could I love him still? He may not be a traitor, but his father would disapprove and we're on opposite sides. I think it would be really awkward for me if I was to talk to him right now," she said.

"Logan, you only have a minute left to live. You must drink the medicine! I'll be honest with you. I would really miss you if you died. Drink, please!" she hurriedly pleaded with him. She grabbed the bottle, opened it, placed it to his mouth, and lifted his head up a little.

"For whose sake am I drinking?" he asked.

"For Galadriel's and mine! For all the people who love you, your parents, your friends, anyone you can think of! Please, Logan!" she pleaded desperately. But Logan had started drinking as soon as she had said, "mine."

He was halfway through the bottle with five seconds remaining. Landa didn't talk, but prayed. Four. Landa watched Logan gulp the liquid down. Three. Landa kept her eye on the clock. Two seconds left. Landa tapped her foot nervously. Two gulps and he would be finished. Logan decided to take it in one gulp. One second. He swallowed and put his head down on his pillow. Time's up. It's all over. The stress, the pain, the patience Landa endured was all over. She looked down at the still form of her friend. She hoped he drank it in time. She dropped to her knees and wept. She could not bear to lose Logan. The pain was too much. She could not hold it in. She cried her heart out. She stayed even when no more tears spilled, until Galadriel came over and carried her to her bed. She slept, but her dreams were troubled and haunted.

She woke up screaming in the morning. She had dreamed that Logan was dead. She got out of bed quickly and dashed out of her room, almost colliding with the wizard.

"What's wrong?" he asked her.

Landa shook her head and said, "I must see Logan."

"Relax. Logan is fine." Words were not enough for her. She must have proof. She must see to believe. Landa rushed past Galadriel, running down the stairs two at a time.

Landa saw Logan walking towards her, but he was not looking up. She ran with her arms wide open and practically collided with him and knocked him over backwards as she embraced him.

"Logan, you're alright!" Landa exclaimed joyously. As she grabbed his hands, her eyes wandered down to his injured hand, except it no longer was hurt. It looked exactly the same as his other hand. It was all healthy, no longer red or swollen.

"Oh, Logan!" Landa cried. "You don't know how happy I am! I was so afraid you didn't drink it in time! You're alright! You're alright!" She kept on saying over and over again as she hugged him again.

"I have you to thank for that. You saved my life! Thanks, Landa," Logan said.

"Logan, I'm so glad you're alive. I'm not ashamed to admit that I cried over you last night. I dreamed you were dead. That's why I screamed. It was a nightmare!" Landa explained, full of emotion.

"Did you tell Galadriel about what happened?" Landa asked.

Logan nodded, then said, "Do I mean that much to you, Landa?"

"Yes, Logan! You have no idea," Landa exclaimed. "How did the medication taste?"

"Gross!" Logan answered without hesitation. "I don't think I would be here if you hadn't come. But after I drank, I fell asleep with drowsiness. In the morning, I woke up and found my hand to be in perfect condition and I felt refreshed, no longer weak. But that medicine was so gross!"