Blood Knot

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Thirteen:

The rain lashed down with a vengeance. Avoca galloped to the stream, leaning forwards to gain more speed. The suns couldn't be seen; thick grey clouds suffocated the yellow sky, their tears crashing down on the mortals with misery. The wind was cold and brutal as it whipped Avoca's hair around, catching in her stitched up head wound. Spirit's hooves pounded on the trail, beating rhythmically on the rock. Mud splashed everywhere, staining the horse's pure white legs. Avoca revelled in the physical exertion. She didn't care that her hair was dripping down her back, wet and limp. She didn't care that her clothes stuck to her skin, chilling her bones. Because she was outside and she was alive. She welcomed the rain. It matched her emotions.

She reached the stream and leapt off Spirit. There was a horse there, the same brown one with white patches round its eyes. Good, Leif was here. She pulled Spirit to a tree forcefully and tied her up. Avoca set of down the stream towards the lake. Whilst the water normally bubbled gently, it was gushing away, as if it was fleeing from the waterfall where Avoca knew she would find her elf. The current was strong.

Avoca reached the lake quicker than ever before. Her feet stamped purposefully through the boggy bank. Leif was sat on the bay, staring nonchalantly at the falling water. He didn't hear her over the noise until she was halfway across the lake. She waded through, not bothering to pick out the submerged stepping stones. He stood up and she walked into his embrace. He was as soaked through as her, but he was still warm and comforting.

'I heard about your parents,' he said softly. 'What's going to happen now?' Avoca shrugged, still in his arms. 'The King's sending some other Lord to rule Chetwick.'

'What?' Leif was shocked. He pulled out of their embrace to look at her better. 'What about Merek? Can't he take over?'

'The King sent a letter saying that as far as anyone is aware, my father still lives so Merek is still the heir, but the King wants someone ‘experienced in war' to take temporary charge of Chetwick,’ she scowled.

Leif took her hand and they sat on the bay together, Avoca resting her head on Leif's chest.

'What else did this letter say?' Leif asked, injecting sarcasm to cover his curiosity. 'When will the new Lord get here?'

'Soon.' She shifted on Leif's chest. 'Mirabelle is having a hard time accepting all that’s happened. She hasn’t gone a day without seeing her parents before,' she scorned gently.

'Mmm.'

Merek thinks he's going to rescue them. Our parents. If they are dead they are lucky. If not, I wouldn’t put torture past their captors.’

Leif didn't reply. Avoca propped herself up on an elbow and looked at him. He was staring into the distance as if he was thinking deeply.

'What is it?' Avoca said.

'Hu?' He brought his attention back to her.

'What's troubling you?'

'Oh, um... Just trying to think if there was anything I could do. To help you. You know.'

'What could you do?' Avoca asked pointedly.

'Nothing,' he said bitterly. Then he looked at her strangely. He glanced at her from under his eyelashes, a slight frown giving a little crease at the top of his nose. The corners of his mouth tugged down. 'Because I'm leaving.'

'What?' Avoca was appalled. 'When? Where are you going? Why do you have to leave?' She sat up. He had her full attention.

He smiled sadly and shuffled closer to her. 'This is the last time you'll see me for a while,' he said, brushing his thumb over the scar on her forehead.

Avoca became dismal. She looked down. Leif cupped her chin with his hand and lifted her face back up. He was shocked to see a thin coating of moisture making her eyes glisten. That just made it harder.

'I've got to go back to my homeland. I need to see some people.'

'Is it to do with my parents?' she asked. A flash of worry crossed his face. But then he saw her despondent expression and was relieved.

'Yes,' he gave a small smile. 'I'll be back. I don't know when, but look out for me here. Actually...' He shook his head. 'Never mind.'

Avoca looked at him curiously. He just shook his head again and pulled her closer. She stared into his open green eyes. They were filled with love and devotion. Avoca trusted him implicitly. He was there, and he would protect her as she would protect him.

'Avoca...' He seemed to be struggling with himself. 'Do you... do you know what a blood knot is?'

'A blood knot? I've heard of it... but why...?'

'We should do it. Tie ourselves together through the strongest means possible.'

'We've barely known one another for a month!' She was stunned.

'I understand if you don't want to,' he said hastily. He looked down. 'It's probably better like that anyway.' Avoca shook her head. 'No, I want to.'

'Really?' His expression as he looked at her was so eager she had to laugh. 'Just promise me you won't die,' she said.

'I won't.' They were serious again. Avoca drew her dagger. 'How do we do this?' She was slightly breathless.

'We're going to need the ruby on your sword.'

'The ruby?'

'Ruby has interesting properties.' He took her sword and laid it on the ground in between them. Then he took Avoca's dagger. He drew a line against the vein along the inside of his forearm with the dagger. As he passed the blade over a thin line of crimson appeared. He took Avoca's left hand in his and rolled her sleeve up. Leif guided the dagger over her vein then led her arm so her fingertips hovered over the ruby. He matched her actions and the little rivulet of blood trickled down past their wrists, across the lines on their palms and off the end of their fingers. Avoca's blood reached the ruby first. As soon as a drop of Leif's blood joined hers, the ruby seemed to shimmer. The blood bubbled like it was boiling. Then two fine strands of red liquid ribbon erupted from the ruby. The extended a foot into the air, dancing around one another. The dance started off slow, graceful and elegant. It sped up, the two blood threads whirling faster and faster and tangling up. They span and twisted, blurring together. Avoca sat entranced. The tops of the ribbon became closer and closer as the bottom knotted. Eventually only an inch was free from being tied and the two pieces seemed to struggle. The free inches leaned apart but the knot was too strong. They were pulled together and merged into one.

The liquid strand dived back down into the ruby and was gone from sight. Avoca and Leif sat there staring at it for a long time.

'Is it done?' Avoca asked eventually.

'Yes. We will go to the abyss together,' he smiled. Leif moved the sword to the side and knelt next to her. Avoca liked the closeness. He was hers now. She knew how much he loved her.

'It’s the only way to protect you,' he said. Avoca looked at him in confusion. His face came closer and adrenaline shot through her body.

'I love you,' he said, whispering in her ear. Every word was coated with adoration. It made her shiver. His soft lips touched her jaw. Gentle kisses traced the line from her ear to collarbone. They were warm against her cold skin, each one sending little shocks through her body. Her heart was beating faster; not like in the battle, for it was lighter and more thrilled. It wasn't a hammer in a cage, it was the thrumming of bird's wings. The blood rushed in her body, reddening her pale cheeks. She took her hands out of Leif's and entwined them in his hair. His hands fell to her waist and pulled her closer to his chest. His lips met hers and the bird inside her chest seemed to take flight. She was on fire.