The next day I awoke from a fitful sleep. Sweat dampened my skin, and I had the unmistakable feeling of terror washing over me, but I could not remember just why I was so scared. I flopped back onto my pillows and stared at the ceiling as I tried to slow my heart rate and even my breathing. Closing my eyes, I tried to conjure any memory of the dream I was sure had caused my abrupt awakening. Unfortunately, every time I seemed to start to remember it, it would leave my memory once more. With it, I felt a longing rise up in me that I had quelled the last few weeks. I wanted to see my family, and I wanted to see them very badly.
Groaning in frustration, I rolled out of bed and washed the sticky remains of my sweat off my body. I shivered slightly against the cool morning air and immediately put on one of my warmer dresses before walking tiredly out of my room. I left my hair loose down my back, feeling too tired to try to tame the long blonde locks into any semblance of order.
My footsteps rang loudly in the quiet. The sun was barely peeking out from behind the mountains surrounding us. I had been heading towards the kitchen to grab a light breakfast, but suddenly my stomach churned at the thought of food. Wincing, I turned and made my way towards one of the many staircases leading outside. I needed some fresh air and thought I knew just the place.
The courtyard was quiet, and as I passed the stables, one horse poked his nose out of his window and greeted me with a soft nicker. A stone archway covered in vines peaked through the trees. The path was mostly grown over, but I was able to see well enough to follow it. Many times I had passed this path wondering where it led to and what lay in the trees.
The farther I went, I began to see stone statues with barely legible writings underneath. Each was covered in moss and vines, nearly swallowed by nature, but underneath the impeccable artistry was still apparent. Each inscription was written in the Elvish runes, making it impossible for me to read. The air was quiet, and not a breeze stirred the leaves.
The trail split in two, circling a small stone gazebo. The rock was dark from dirt and grime. The same vines that covered the statues crept up the columns and hung limply over the entryways. I imagined at one time this was a beautiful garden teeming with life. Everything about this place was so unlike the other Elven gardens. It puzzled me to think that a place in this beautiful valley would be unkept and forgotten, left to ruin. The Elves were usually so diligent in caring for their land. What must this place be to be left in such disrepair?
At that moment, I noticed a smaller statue further behind the gazebo. It was not the statue itself that caught my attention, but the dark shape kneeling in front of it. I ducked behind the foliage and strained my eyes to see who it was. Surprise was my first reaction, then nervousness overtook it as I recognized the dark braid and broad shoulders.
What is he doing here? I thought. My stomach flipped and a queasy feeling settled in my chest as I watched him in silence. Part of me wanted to talk to him and mend the rift I had created, and the other part wanted to hide forever. Even if it just meant saving me from some major embarrassment. His presence unnerved me, and yet, I was strangely comforted at the sight of him.
But fear drove me to turn away, to walk away from him and leave him to his quiet solitude. I had just approached the broken fountain when my heart leaped into my throat, and my feet froze beneath me.
"Esther." His quiet voice broke the still air, but it was not my name that caught my attention. Instead, it was the quiet brokenness that lay behind that one word. Turning slowly, I met his icy gaze, only to see that it no longer was shrouded, but now I could see every bit of pain, loneliness, and even hurt in his eyes.
My heart clenched. Had I caused this? I did not think that our friendship was strong enough to cause such sadness in him with my avoidance. Guilt welled up and shame quickly followed at the thought that I may have been the cause of some of his suffering.
YOU ARE READING
Her Resurrection
Fanfiction"My life had changed, and not solely for the better. At least, it did not seem that way at the time." A young woman goes missing in a small southern town. What the residents do not know is that she has not only gone missing from their town...
