The Lost Bellator

Two

Inveniet

Arlaige's walk back was spent partly with him cursing the men in the pub and with him developing a plan. He knew that his time had come to leave and he was ready, he was ready to find her, to do something, but as his eyes fell upon his small house, a small part of him could not help but want to stay. He did not want to leave his sister's side, but he knew it was necessary. His eyes burned from exhaustion and he ached to sit down, to rest his tired muscles, but he knew his wishes were futile. He would have to push through.

He knew that in order to leave he would have to leave Celia with someone that wasn't him, and he knew of only one person, and he was glad that he did. Jorin was the closest thing he had to family besides Celia, and Arlaige felt safe leaving her with him. Jorin wouldn't let harm come to his sister.

Arlaige glances up towards the house at the perfect time, the sound of a flutter of wings reaching his ears as his songbird dropped from the sky and perched on the cobblestones that traced to his doorway. He slowed his pace, not wanting the sound to reach his ears because then he would be unable to think and his mind would only be on one thing. The Bellator.

As much as he had not wanted to think about her, she seemed to cloud his brain at inopportune moments. He did not know her face because she had never been sighted by a living body before, but he saw her, sometimes, in his dreams. She floated behind his eyelids, covered in darkness, almost as if it followed her. And she called to him, her voice crashing around his ears like waves. Sometimes her call rose to a scream, disrupting him from his sleep, and he always seemed to wake before she turned to look at him. But still, he knew these dreams were not just dreams, they were visions, and she was out there. He only had one problem, he didn't know where to start.

His eyes drop to the songbird that sat before him. He had a small feeling in the pit of his stomach that told him to listen to the song. But as soon as the feeling comes, it is gone and as he passes his songbird, it flies off.

"Thanks for nothing." He mumbles to himself, shaking his head as he pushes the door to his home open, the warmth from the inside sending chills up his cold body.

He immediately sets his bag down and removes his coat, hanging them both on the stool that stood by the door. The boards underneath him creak as he walks towards his room, no doubt alerting his sister to his presence. And just as he has graced the doorway, he hears her soft voice call to him.

"Arlaige?"

He twists back around and peeks his head inside of her room, his eyes softening as they land on her frail body. She was propping herself up as much as she could and when her eyes met his he releases a sigh. He had crossed her room and was by her bedside and helping her up a moment later, propping another pelt under her head. She offers him a small smile, grateful for his help and he presses his hand to her forehead, the heat from her body transferring to his cold hand. It surprised him, how hot her skin was. She wasn't burning like this when he had left. He clenches his teeth together as he pushes her hair from her face.

"Your fever has risen." He mumbles as he absentmindedly twirls a piece of her silver hair around his finger. She nods, her eyes closing as she takes in a shaky breath.

"I know what you head for, Arlaige." She wastes no time getting to her point.

He glances at her, guilt plastered all over his face. No doubt she could see it. He hadn't wanted to leave her, and she knew that. She knew he felt terrible for leaving, but he knew he needed something, anything. She was all he had left. He couldn't just let her die.

"I know you feel as if you need to stay, but listen to me-." Her tone had taken a fierce note to it and his eyes widen as she grits her teeth, propping herself up on one elbow, taking most of her strength with her. She reached up, grasping the side of his face in her small hand and she makes him look at her.

"You will not stay because I am sick. Do you hear me? You have a chance to find something that will help us all, and you will not give this up." Her hand gripped his tunic, curling around the fabric. He knew it was all she could do to stay up.

Her eyes held a fire he hadn't seen in some time, and he bites the inside of his cheek, hard enough to draw blood. She was always too smart for her own good, and she always spoke her mind. In their younger years it had gotten her into quite a lot of trouble, but he had always been there to get her out of it. And now, he needed to get her out of the biggest problem she had.

"I know, I know." He whispers. "I just-. What if something happens while I am gone? What if I am unable to find her?"

She shakes her head, letting herself fall back onto her pelts, sweat beginning to bead on her forehead.

"You will do great things, Arlaige. I can feel it. You need not worry about your travels. All you have to do is go."

He grips her hand as if it is the only thing keeping him sane, and maybe it was.

"I will go for you. I will find a cure for you." He places a soft kiss to her forehead, determination set in his eyes.

" I will wreak havoc on the King, until my name is the only name he knows. The only name that consumes his mind. I will bring fear to him. I swear it." He says, releasing her hand and standing up.

"I will end this."

___

Arlaige cooked them a fine dinner that night, knowing that this would most likely be the last good meal he would have in a while. And afterwards, he packed his bag slowly, making sure he forgot nothing. He didn't know how long he would be gone and so he packed just a little more than he needed. He didn't want to die on his travels from the cold or starvation. And when he was done packing he glanced out of the window just in time to see the first snowflakes of winter flurry down from the sky. He let out a breath. It would be a long winter, and he knew when he came back, he would be in the thick of it. He needed to get back before it reached his peak because if he didn't...he caught a glimpse of his sister lying on the bed, propped up and pale, her breathing shallow and her eyes closed. His heart clenched but he quickly composed himself as she turned to him, a smile on her lips as she reaches out to him. He immediately takes her hand in his. He was filled with worry, but she was calm.

"Jorin will be here for me. I will be alright." She gives him a reassuring smile, one which he doesn't return. If he didn't come back there was no hope for her, no hope for any of them. The weight of what he was doing was crashing down upon him.

"No one will hate you if you fail." It was always like she could read his mind, know what he was thinking, and she always had the right things to say. Arlaige placed another kiss on her hand before he placed it back under her cover, pulling them up close to her chin. Hopefully her fever would break by dawn.

"You are wasting time." She says, her eyes already falling shut from what little energy she had given up to talk to him. He gives her one last glance, before he bids her goodbye and stands in front of their cottage door. His heart was pounding as he pulled his bow over his head along with his quiver. He re-positioned his bag, double checking that he had everything he needed before he closed his hand around the handle and opened the door.

The wind was cold and unforgiving and there were flurries going every which way, so fast he could hardly see, but he closed the door behind him, giving up the warmth and safety of his home. He took one deep, icy breath, and then he stepped out into the night.