The Necronomicon

Chapter Seventeen

"Is everything okay?" Frederick asked Meredith, and she nodded smilingly. A World for Women had raised her spirits easily, and she was with her true love.

"Everything is amazing," She replied, and Frederick curled his hand into hers. They walked on, Frederick leading her. Behind them Dmitri spoke in a low tone to Olivia. Meredith waited for Frederick to continue speaking to her, but he didn't say anything for a few minutes. Then, abruptly, he spoke again.

"I hope you're not going to be bored by the talk tonight," He told her, his face lit up by a bright smile, and she beamed back.

The fire was still burning, its flames reaching for the sky with fiery fingertips. Around the bonfire sat a mass of rebels, all chattering at once. Meredith marvelled at the sheer number of them. She'd never seen so many people in her life, even at all the parties she went to, and danced her heart out at. Beside her Frederick let go of her hand, and stepped forward. A silence seemed to fall over the group as he raised his voice to address them. It surprised Meredith — every single rebel turning around to face him. Her lips formed a smile as Frederick began.

"I hope you enjoy tonight's dinner. I must thank all of you for providing some food, whether it was a rabbit, or a deer," He paused for a second, as if considering his next words. "I understand you haven't seen me for some time, and I apologise for how long my journey here was. I did not mean to worry you. If you felt anxiety over the time I took getting here; don't fret — I was not ambushed by The Elders." He laughed, and most of the other rebels did too. Unsure of why they were laughing, Meredith faked a choked giggle that didn't convince anyone.

Frederick carried on, greeting people, and speaking endlessly, then he smiled. "Now that you're all bored of me talking, and excited to finish your meal, I'll let you eat. Don't forget — tomorrow night we have Audrey's speech, if you wish to attend that."

There was raucous applause, and Frederick bowed smartly. He walked back towards Meredith, Dmitri and Olivia, and smiled at them as he approached. "That went well," Dmitri said to him, and Frederick nodded happily, and when he didn't slip his hand back into Meredith's she sighed mournfully.

Olivia tapped her shoulder. "Let's get some food."

Meredith looked at Frederick, who was talking to Dmitri animatedly, and then back at Olivia's easy smile. "Okay," She said, and Olivia showed her to a table full of food, and they took some, buffet style. There was chicken and deer and berries and leafy vegetables, and Meredith piled her plate with as much food as it could hold.

They both walked back to where they'd stood — Frederick and Dmitri had gone, and Meredith scanned the area for them, but to no avail. "Where's the cutlery?" She asked Olivia, who shook her head.

"There isn't any," Olivia told her, and laughed at Meredith's horrified expression. "You have to use your hands."

Meredith, disgusted, picked up a leg of chicken from her plate reluctantly. She brought it to her mouth, and tore a strip off of it, chewing it with a satisfied smile on herself. The food tasted so good she didn't even care that she was using her hands to feed herself, and she ate swiftly, not looking at all ladylike but not much caring. She knew Frederick wouldn't care how she ate her food, and he was the only one she wanted to impress.

Frederick and Dmitri reappeared, striding towards them. "I'd like you to meet some people," Frederick said to Meredith, taking her arm, and she nodded. He took her around the fire, through the clusters of people, and towards a smaller congregation. There were around five people, all standing talking to one another, and Frederick showed her through them, into the middle of their circle.

"Is this the girl you were talking about?" One of them, a woman, asked, and Frederick nodded, touching the small of Meredith's back and pushing her forward slightly. She smiled at the people, and the woman who'd spoken looked at her.