~ For Argaland ~

Chapter VI

"The sun is setting, let us stay here for the night," Essie declared as we stopped our progression underneath the shelter of a cluster of tall trees.

"We can go further yet tonight," Adar pressed as he walked next to me, cradling his mangled forearm, which was still wrapped in Essie's skirt cloth.

"Nonsense," I replied turning to him, "we need to wrap your wound properly, we only left the swamp twenty minutes ago and the bleeding has not stopped."

Adar watched the ground and sighed, his argument defeated."There is a log here, come and sit," Essie instructed the archer as she rummaged through her pack.

Not long after, she pulled out a roll of white bandage and a soft cloth, making her way over to Adar she sat down and started unravelling the dressing. I had still to thank my rescuer for my life so I quickly asked, "Essie, I can wrap a wound, may I do it?"She lifted her eyes to meet mine with a confused yet somewhat understanding look as she nodded. Rising from her seat she placed the items in my hands and spoke, "very well, I shall go and retrieve some firewood."

I watched her disappear into the forest edge before sitting down next to Adar; taking his arm into my lap I began to slowly unravel the previous makeshift bandage. I didn't meet his eyes for fear of what I would see in them as I silently surveyed the wound. There were giant gashes in three places that made zigzag patterns on the underside of his forearm and multiple thinner slices on the side.

I swallowed difficultly as tremendous guilt filled my soul, the injury was savage and must hurt greatly, yet not one sound of pain came from its victim. Tears pricked my eyes as I cleared my throat and began, "I uh, I never said thank you for saving me."

"It was my honour to protect you. I don't know how I would have lived with myself if I let you be killed by that creature," Adar answered in a gentle tone, causing me to look up.I met his eyes for a brief moment and pushed a wisp of red hair out of my face before averting my gaze, "I have to clean the wound," I stated, grabbing a flask of water from the nearby rock and soaking a soft cloth with it.
I then took the back of his hand to rest in my palm as I gently wiped the cloth over the dried blood. I heard him draw in a quick breath but he didn't let out a single sound of discomfort and I knew it was for my sake. I could feel his eyes on me as I cleaned the rest of the wound, and it made me nervous.

"There," I sighed as I cleaned the last of it, after patting it dry with a separate cloth, "now I will wrap it properly."

I placed the bandage correctly and began to wrap his arm, not too tightly, just enough to stop the bleeding. I still felt terribly guilty and I wasn't certain how to deal with it, I had never felt like this before, for anyone, not even my dear sister Akari.

"Amirah," Adar's voice broke into my thoughts.

"There, it is done," I declared, tying a knot in the fabric, ignoring his attempt at conversation, "we must get some rest, tomorrow will come quickly."

"Amirah," he spoke again, "what's wrong? Talk to me."

"I do not know how to feel at this moment," I admitted, not meeting his eyes, "I feel so horribly guilty, yet I understand the reason for your actions. I think it must be that I just don't feel worthy of having so much risked for my sake. Akari lost her life for me, you almost lost an arm and Essie risked her life by coming to find me in Trogia."

Adar watched me until I lifted my gaze, "you're missing the most important point," he said softly.

"What's that?" I asked.

"It's not about you," he answered firmly, yet there was care in his voice, "it's never been about you - or me, or Essie. Akari proved this to us when she gave her life up, it wasn't for any of us, she did it for the greater good. She believed we would be the ones to win back Argaland, to give the people hope for a new life of freedom."