The Lost and the Hounds (Book Three of the Ranger and The Thief series)

Chapter Ten

  His head was pounding as he slowly opened his eyes. Everything was a blur and he could hear muffled voices fussing about him. The first thing that came to his mind was blurted out.

"Where Emmy?" He asked, his words slurred.

"Willy! You're alright!" His mother squealed. The sound of her voice sent a wave of nausea through him. Willy slowly turned his head to see Emmy next to him, still out cold. He could see the raggedness of her breathing and the black soot still covering her face from the fire. She had a wet cloth about her forehead and he cheeks were a bright red from the heat.

"Is she alright?" He asked sitting up. It was as if someone took a brick to his head, and he let out a moan, slowly lowering back to the blankets on the ground.

"We don't know. She won't wake up." Abby said.

"How long have I been out?" Willy asked. Abby paused for a moment before answering.

"Two days. The smoke and heat really took a toll on you both. She was exposed to the heat the longest, so we figure she is worse off then you. Did you carry her out?" She asked. Willy held his head in his hands.

"I...I don't remember. I only remember being the most scared I've ever been in my life." He shuddered. Abby pulled him into an embrace and kissed his forehead. She pulled away with a confused look etched upon her face.

"Willy! You're burning up!" She said placing her hand on his forehead. "Come on, back to bed." She pulled the blankets over him and placed a cold rag over his head before leaving the room. Once she was gone, Willy looked around, noticing they were in a place he'd only been a few times, when he wanted to escape MJ's torture when he was younger. It was an old hunting cabin up in the mountains. His dad took him there when he was little to teach him how to pick locks, without the bother of Abby.

"Em?" He hissed at Emmy. He scooted towards her and wiped a little soot off her cheeks. She didn't move a muscle. "Please wake up." He whispered. He felt the tears welling up in the corner of his eyes as he saw her, helpless and broken. "I should have never let you out of my sight. This is all my fault." He pressed his forehead to hers and kissed the tip of her nose, one of his tears escaping and falling onto her cheek. "Please wake up. Emilia Starfollower, I love you."

***

She felt herself shaking as she tucked a strand of her blond hair behind her ear. She smoothed out her white dress and stood, taking in a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves. She had been dreading this day for weeks now, and kept waiting for her one true love to come back for her, but she knew he wouldn't.

"Lady Bente!" There was a knock on the door and her maid, Lily, entered the room. "It's time, milady." Lily said. Bente straightened her veil on top of her head one last time and followed Lily out of her room. "Are you ready?" Lily asked.

"No." Bente answered truthfully. Ever since the Hounds left, she and Preston had done nothing but bicker with each other. She had no love towards the man she was forced to marry today.

"That is just the wedding day jitters, Ma'am." Lily said smiling. Bente rolled her eyes, unseen by Lily.

"Yes, I'm sure you are quite right. Lily? Have you heard any news from your old friend Lynn in a while?" She asked. Lily tensed up.

"I have chosen not to speak to Lynn, milady. She has chosen a wrong path in life becoming a ranger, and I will not speak to her." Lily said stiffly. Bente nodded.

"Alright, I was just wondering, since she promised to send me word of my old friends and she has not done so." She said. Lily smiled.

"Think not off it, Lady Bente. Today is your day."

   The entered the great hall of the house, and Bente shivered as she saw all of the people lined in chairs waiting for her, and Preston at the end of the ailse, looking like he was in pain. The orchastra started and Lord Flinchshire joined her, taking her arm. She began her decent down the ailse, The long walk of dread for her. The music stopped when she reached Preston. They simply gave each other a small glare, unnoticed by the congrigation.

"We are gathered here today..." The old preacher began. Bente refused to look Preston in the eye. She could feel his gaze radiating towards her.

"Stop!" Bente yelled. The whole crowd gasped and she winced at the attention. The preacher droned off.

"What is the matter, dear Bente?" Lord Flinchshire whispered to her. Bente swallowed hard.

"I can't do this. I can't marry a man I don't love, or who doesn't love me." She said. Preston's eyes seemed to get brighter as she spoke up. "I will only ever love one man, and I know deep down he still loves me. The only man I will ever marry is Willy, and no one will stop me. I'm sorry." She kissed Lord Flinchshire on the cheek before hiking up her skirt and running out of the great hall. A laugh started at the back of her throat and rose as she ran out of the house and waved to a driver who was waiting by a carriage.

"Take me to Castle Araluen, sir." She said. He bowed and opened the door for. She slid into the carriage and grinned as the carriage moved north. From castle Araluen she'd catch a cargo ship back to Skandia, to Hallasholm to see her love once again.

***

Okay, I lied. No Herons or Hound contention in this one. next chapter though, I promise. I got the great idea of Bente coming back while I was suppose to be doing My homework... :)
Hope you like it. Yay! Willy finally confessed his love for Emmy, though she wasn't quite conscious to hear... Oh well, he admitted to himself! Keep reading loves!

~Avis