Aurora Borealis
For Love: Part Two
CAMiraj@aol.com <BR>
Rating: G

        Well, here it is! I hope you all enjoy it! I received great feedback
from part one; A huge *!Thank You!* to everyone that sent me mail! It is
very encouraging!!! Keep it up! :) Please!!!! 
        In the meantime, happy reading! Hopefully you?ll like Part Two!!

        *...Thanks again to my great and wonderful editor! Everyone should
have as good a friend as I have!!!*

Chapter 2: Making Amends
              It was growing dark, and soon night would come. Serena toyed
with the thought of stopping at the next town, but she knew that was too
dangerous. Finally she resigned herself to staying outside for the night.
Whatever wild animal or other danger might be out there could not be worse
than being discovered by Kaman, she reasoned.
        Finding a vale somewhat hidden from the road, she dismounted and led
her horse into the clearing. The main road that they had traveled ran
parallel to the River Avren, so all she had to do was follow the sound of
the water. Once there, they would be hidden. 
         After finding a suitable place next to the water's edge, Serena
untacked Cabal for the night, letting him graze on the short grass. She then
rolled up her equipment and clothes with the intent of sleeping, but
something in the water drew her near to the edge of the small stream. A
glint in the late setting sun, on and off again, something shining in the
water? Serena leaned over to get a closer look. The light was so beautiful,
looking more like a radiation than a reflection of
the twilight. Something round... Serena reached down to grasp it, oblivious
to the icy water that soaked her sleeve. Realization hit her as her numb
fingers clutched the prize: it was her silver ring!
        Suddenly a noise, a slight groan and rustle in the grass on the
opposite shore startled her. Her head shot up in alarm, and at the same time
she lost her wavering balance, and fell headfirst into the chilly water.
Completely shocked and mortified, she floundered like a wet cat. With
difficulty, she made her way to the shore, and pulled herself up, vaguely
aware of quiet laughter coming from the trees. 
        ?Now I?ve done it,? she said aloud to herself, already trying in
vain to wring out her sodden dress and hair that clung to her. Giving up,
she turned, hands on hips, and faced the laughing trees.
        ?I?m sorry, m?lady. I don?t mean to laugh at your expense.? a
familiar voice explained. ?It was rather funny...? it said, somewhat
apologetically. 
        A wounded figure emerged from the trees, one hand pressed firmly in
his bloody side. He walked towards the sopping Serena with a slight limp,
and a grimace that was barely noticeable. His stride was long, and he was
tall, crowned with a mass of ebony hair. Even though he looked barely in his
twenties, he wore the garb of a soldier, with the remains of a tattered
cloak flung round his strong shoulders. Most striking were
his eyes, piercingly blue like the enchantresses? fire. 
        A brief shadow of fear had passed over her, and she thought perhaps
he was one of Kaman?s men... But no, this man looked delightedly familiar!
Recognition hit them at the same time, and Serena sighed in relief. 
        The soldier approached the damp, ragged figure and almost
instantly groaned. What are the chances? he thought. It can?t be... 
        ?Not you again,? he said in greeting to Serena?s wet smile.
        ?Well, it?s nice to see you, too,? She said, drawing herself up to
her full height and trying to look indignant. Of course that was difficult,
since she was dripping wet...  
        ?What are you doing here? You should be halfway to Rome by now!? he
cried accusingly.
        ?Me? I could ask you the same question! I just stopped to rest
awhile, and now I?m all... all wet!? Serena cried. ?It?s not my fault that
I?ve had to be rescued twice in one day, and that Kaman?s after me, and then
fall in a river looking for- <I>Your</I> ring!? she ended shrilly.
        ?Well it?s not my fault that-? he stopped. ?You found it?? 
        ?Yes. In the river. What, did you think I was looking at my
reflection or something?? Serena asked, completely exasperated.
        ?Anyway, here.? she finished, pushing the ring into his hand. ?Keep
it. Consider it a gift. Again.?
        She quickly turned to leave, and didn?t notice him tucking the ring
carefully away. He stood still for a moment, seemingly pondering an
important point in his head.
        Then, decisively, he took off after her, following at a fast pace.

     ?Wait! Let me come with you,? He cried out so suddenly that it startled
Serena, and she threw her hands up in the air. When one caught him in his
side, he yelped, and doubled up in pain. 
        ?Oh, I?m so sorry!? Serena cried, bending to help him. He pushed her
away defensively.
        ?No- no, it?s ok. I?m ok.? he said quickly.
        "But you're hurt," she insisted, trying to pry open his jacket so
she could look at his wound. 
        "Stop that! I'm fine," he said impatiently. To prove his point he
moved his hand away from the reopened wound. Fresh blood poured out of his
side, between his fingers and onto Serena's soaked dress.
        "Ah!" he cried out sharply, as in pain.
        "Look," she said, ignoring the blood that cascaded onto her dress,
"Let me help you. Please?" she asked earnestly, looking into his deep set
eyes, now filled with pain. 
        "I can help you, if you'll let me. But you'll have to cooperate."
Serena stared pleadingly at him, waiting for his reply. She could see him
weighing the idea in his head.
        "Really, don't you think you've done enough?" he said, as he
struggled to his feet. She reached out to help him but again he pushed her
hand away. 
        "Leave me," he whispered. And then he collapsed.
*               *                                                       *
*       *

        The sunshine reached them in their hiding place, and gently woke
Serena from her dreamless reverie. Her clothes still damp, she shivered in
the slight sunshine that had the power to wake if not to warm. She yawned
and turned on her side to check on her reluctant patient.
        She was afraid that he wouldn't make it through the night, even with
the help of Hepta's herbs. Obviously weakened by loss of blood, he had
fallen into a slight fever that had broken in the night. Binding his wounds
and making him take water, Serena had been up most of the night, but
apparently her efforts had paid off. The stranger still slept, his bandaged
torso rising and falling with every labored breath. He trembled slightly
every now and then, whether from fear or cold she knew not.
Once she had been taught demons danced in the heads of the sick, tormenting
them with dark dreams and making them fight in a great struggle for their
lives. 
        Absently, she brushed a lock of black hair off his forehead and
tried unsuccessfully to tuck it behind his ear. She wished: no, longed, for
the bright blue eyes to open and stare at her. Even a glare would be most
welcomed now. 
        Raising her head to the rising sun, she breathed a prayer for him to
keep his life. 
        
*       *
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         The questions, oh the questions. The pure irony of it all. HAHA!
I?m the only one who knows what's going to happen!! Neener Neener! 
        Well, you can all return to your lives now, citizens. :)  
        I hope ya enjoyed it. If you did (or even if you didn?t) WRITE ME
please. I want feedback. I need feedback. It helps me write. 
        Part three WILL be out soon, maybe a couple of weeks or so. Check it
out!! Until then-
                Aurora Borealis