Ted the tubby

Lost

"JESSICA" Henry's voice was so hoarse it burned to yell for her, but still he did. "JESSICA ARE YOU THERE?" Henry swatted at the fireflies in an exhausted way. It was, in fact rather late at night but the fireflies had remained out to light Henry's way. "JESSICA. JESSICCCCAAA... Jessicaaaa, Jess, June, Janet, Julia, Jane..." Henry collapsed and pulled off his armor with clumsy fingers. His blond hair was damp with dirt, his face was smeared with it. He looked like a homeless vagabond resting for the night with the trees. "Jessica." It was a whisper now. A longing whisper for her, for his Jessica, for Sir Bryan the Brave's Jessie, the one who was worth it... Something soft brushed Henry's leg. It was Lewis. Henry gave a very light laugh. Perhaps it was something about the cat's wide green eyes, but Henry, just like Ted, sought comfort in talking to something that could only listen.

"Hello Lewis. How are you? I'm not good at all actually." Henry stroked Lewis with a dirty hand. "I failed her Lewis. Sylvia is gone. Who was I to think I could defeat a witch? It it's a fool's errand. But love makes fools out of all of us I suppose. I wish I could sleep Lewis. But how can I rest when she depends on me? She's in an unusual prison, but it is a prison all the same." Henry ran the back of his hand over his eyes. "When I was little, back when, I used to run all the time. I liked it, not so much the running but the dust getting kicked up by my feet. Do you like dust Lewis? I do. But anyway after running your throat gets all dry and you drink and the water rushes into you all nice and cold. It seems like it turns your gears, gets you going again. Jessie was like that. She was the hand up when I ran too far. She was the one who brought some meaning back. She's the only thing I can fight for." Henry pulled his armor on and put his helmet on his shaggy hair. "Ever been in love Lewis? Oh don't be. It's a disastrous business." Henry stood up and took a step towards the rising sun. The fireflies and Lewis trailed behind him like noble followers, to guide him where he needed to go.

Jessie the Brave almost made it. She was opening the door when he came. "Jessie!" The woman leapt around with a started cry. Sir Bryan the Brave looked like a guilty schoolboy. His perfect eyes had widened, and he had dropped the enormous bouquet he had been holding. Jessie the Brave's heart sunk, but she was not surprised. She believed Henry, but here was the proof. The cold hard facts that Jessie the Brave had to look at. "Well dearest husband. Where are you going so late at night? Oh and with such lovely flowers." Jessie's tone had become hard and flat, somewhere between sarcastic and emotionless. Sir Bryan the Brave sheepishly picked up his flowers. "I-uh, wait where were you going?" "DON'T change the subject!" Jessie snapped. "Tell me Sir Bryan the Brave, tell your wife where you're going." Sir Bryan the Brave eyed Jessie oddly. Something snapped. "WHO WAS IT?" Jessie the Brave's hands smashed into her husband's chest. "A smitten girl from the village? Or one of the fanclub members who you insisted were nothing? I am not an idiot, as much as I pretend I am. Is she prettier? Certainly she must be, that's all that matters. Curvy or petite? Brunette or blond? Perhaps you branched out and picked a ginger. Oh so sorry, don't let me keep you." Jessie swept aside her skirts and motioned to the door. Sir Bryan the Brave stood there, shocked. Jessie snatched his flowers and promptly threw them out the door. "Hurry hurry love. Places to be, people to subdue- oh sorry I meant see. Go on, go on." Sir Bryan the Brave moved towards his wife. "Jessie-" "OUT!" The knight gave her a long look, and then lumbered out the door, shame clear on his face. Jessie sunk to the floor and the pain in her heart told her Henry had not yet succeeded.

"Henry!" Ted thought his companion had been dead when he saw him, facedown in the mud. "No no no no, no more death, Henry." Barrus reared in distress behind Ted. "Wake up." Henry shot up so fast his skull hit Ted's. "Oh gosh Ted!" "HENRY! Are you okay?" Henry slumped in Ted's arms. "I'm sorry Ted." Ted had always considered the stable boy like the older brother that he never had. Henry had always been the stronger and more mature one. It unnerved Ted seeing him like this. "Henry what are you talking about?" Henry shifted his hand to show Ted. It was swollen and red, puffy skin instead of smooth and tan tones. "It was a viper Ted. I failed. Tell Jessica-""SHUT UP!" Ted pushed Henry back and tore at his hair. "No! You won't die! Sylvia's gone and Thursday is gone and...and...no NO!"
Ted heaved Henry to his feet and pulled him alongside. Henry was going to live, poisonous snake or not.

"It's no use Ted. These woods are endless." Hours of walking. Ted's legs collapsed under him; He couldn't support Henry anymore. Ted felt like sobbing. And then he smiled. "These woods may be endless Henry, but they're also crawling with witches!" Ted raised a finger and pointed at smoke rising above the forrest.