Teres held the small blonde boy in his arms. The two stood in a vast and stony cavern that emitted a purple glow. The source of this light came from the bottom of an elegant and decorated square pool in the middle of the room. The shallow pond's floor was made up of brilliantly purple amethysts, all small in size. Planted around its edge were delicate lilies, the soil stored in an indent within the room's stone ground. The flowers were white with the same glow as the amethysts within their petals. The room itself was somber. The ceiling was high, and all but the pool, the room was empty. Large clouds of steam swirled around the cavern's upper half. Along the walls, stone sculptures, and designs of long-forgotten runes were inscribed within their engravings. High at the back wall was a massive round window caked with outside moss. In from this opening seeped the night sky's eerie glow. Even as the steam emmitted from the pool, the room was just as cold as the chilly night air. even Teres, who was much more accostomed to the freezing outdoor temperatures, shivered.
Teres carried Ferrin towards the pool, beams of moonlight streaming through the round window, the reflection of such shimmering on the warm water's surface. The beast steps over the lilies and into the shallow purple waters. He gazes down at Ferrin. The boy was cold, and his face was a shade of blue that no face should ever be. the soles of his feet were a deep purple, his toes the same. The petite boy was also covered in small wounds and scrapes from his tumble down the stairs, and his adventure within the leech riddled waters.
Teres was becoming frantic. Ferrin was no longer breathing, and his pulse was all but missing. The creature squats down, lowering himself and the small blonde boy into the water. He allows the warm liquid to cover over the pale boy, leaving only his face exposed. His sandy-colored hair swirled above his head, and his limps floated up towards the surface of the water. The beast gently releases him, the boy laying against the deep purple stones. Teres turns, reaching back out of the pool and plucking the head of a white lily. He starts to gently rip away the petals. With shaking hands, Teres reaches out, opening Ferrin's mouth carefully. He inserts the lily petals before forcing Ferrin's mouth closed again. Teres stands, stepping out of the steaming waters. He turns, staring up at the moon, his eyes tearing up.
"Please Goddess! Please rebirth him under you! Save him!" He pleads at the sky. Tears begin to fill his eyes. "He's all I have left of her! I'll do anything!"
He cries out. It didn't take much longer when suddenly the purple glow began to brighten. Teres turns back to the pool, surprised by the quick answer to his prayer. It was beaming, the lights only brightening more. Teres covers his eyes till he finally falls to his knees. He turns his head away, the light almost blinding now. Ferrin's feeble body then begins to rise into the air, levitating over the pool. The purple light starts to swirl around him, his limps hanging limply beneath him.
"Thank you! Thank you, my Goddess!" Teres cries loudly, his face still hidden from the blinding pool. The light surrounds the boy, soaking into his pores, his pale skin then aglow. Teres peeks up, his expression reflecting his amazement and disbelief. The Goddess... She finally answered him. He clenches his fist, hoping and begging that the boy would live.
🔹🔹🔹
The sound of the rushing water was louder than ever before. Lavender steps out from the canopy of trees just then to see a wide and roaring river. The water seemed shallow. But the current was fast, and no section of it seemed like less than a rapid. Lavender widens her eyes at the river. She had never expected it to be so massive. The far bank was much further than the girl had anticipated. She frowns, clueless on what to do. She had never seen the river before and realized she knew nothing about it. Lavender was beginning to feel frustrated.
Still, she felt uneasy. She knew Ferrin was in grave danger. Yet now she felt helpless to do anything about it. She looks back and forth at either side of the stretch of water. Thornwood itself had deemed it impossible to cross, and more so a dangerous killer. The River of Lost had claimed more lives than any beast could. Lavender was beginning to feel doubtful of herself. Should she give up? She grasps onto the lantern. She grits her teeth. Anger and defeat were beginning to boil deep within her. She clenches her fist before screaming out loudly in frustration. She bends down and picks up a stone, chucking it off into the waters. She couldn't contain her disappointment.
The girl was already tired. Her feet ached, her sides stung, and her legs felt weak. She huffs heavily, standing on the bank overwhelmed and hopeless.
"What did you expect? I told you." A voice suddenly rang behind her. Lavender swirls around to just then see Hierance with his shoulder leaning against a wide tree trunk. Her expression hardens. She glances down, noticing now white linen tied tightly around his wounded hand. with that also was a ripped sleeve. She again brings her gaze to him.
"Do you need something? Or did you come to revel in my failures?" She hisses. He shrugs.
"So what if I did? The night is still young." He states. She sighs turning back to the river. A silence overcame them. Lavender kept her eyes glued to the far bank. Her expression falls. All reality was seeming to fade. It all felt so strange, standing there helpless. Determination hadn't seemed to be enough. She breathes a heavy and drawn out sigh.
"It's impossible, isn't it? Crossing this?" She questions, her tone softer. She was more so talking to herself. Hierance kept his eyes on her. He barely heard her over the sound of rushing water. He steps up to her side, placing his hand on her shoulder.
"For you maybe." He says with a smile. She frowns, shoving his palm from her shoulder.
"For me? Are you saying you could?" She spits. He keeps his gaze on the water in thought.
"Well, I've never thought to try. But your mother was a bit of a legend for it. No one really knows how she did it." He responds. Lavender tilts her head, her brow furrowed.
"My mother? What do you know of my mother?" She asks with a glare. He glances towards her.
"You didn't know? Has your father told anything about her? My father knew her well. He has reminisced to me before." Hierance states. Lavender now felt more confused. Her father didn't tell her anything. He refused to talk about her at all. She glances down.
"No. He prefers to forget that she existed. I know near to nothing but what I remember." She murmurs more to herself. Hierance folds his arms.
"You really know nothing about anything, do you? Not about the beast, the river, or even your own mother... That's quite sad y' know." He says, obviously insulting her intelligence again. She sighs loudly. Lavender ignored the comment. Though he was right. She didn't know anything. But she was desperate to. She reaches out, Grasping the boy's arm. She steps towards him.
"Tell me. Tell me everything you know of her!" She demands. he snickers loudly.
"And what will you give me in return?" He sneers. She grimaces rolling her eyes.
"Forget it then." She states, releasing him. She again longingly peers at the other side of the river. He eyes her, thinking.
"I suppose there is nothing you could give me. You're nothing but a peasant after all." He adds. She rolls her eyes, saying nothing.
"Or... There is one thing." He says. She grimaces, glancing towards him.
"I will not sleep with you if that's what you're implying." She bluntly states. He frowns, suddenly confused.
"What? No. I don't need that. I was going to say that I want some of your father's ale. Everyone knows he brews it himself. Father says he has been hoarding all his malt and yeast... He hasn't provided a single grain in over a year." Hierance states.
"And why do you need that? I'm sure your father has plenty locked up in that Goddess forsaken manor."
"My point exactly. Locked up. My mother thinks it's vile and won't allow me even a sip."
"That's because it is vile."
Hierance sighs heavily. Again there was silence. He too turns his gaze to the river. He glances at her again, still facing ahead. She catches his gaze. Lavender rolls her eyes again.
"What?" She inquiries.
"Tell you what... Bring me half a dozen bottles tomorrow and not only will I tell you everything I know, but I will even help you get your brother back. It might be fun after all." He states. Lavender listens. She narrows her eyes in suspicion. She didn't want his help. She didn't want anything to do with him... And yet somehow she knew she needed it. She was nearly inclined to reject it, but there was a sudden grip in her chest.
After another long pause, She finally nods.
"Fine. It's a deal. You'll tell me now won't you?" She asks with a cold tone. He shrugs.
"S'pose I could. Long as you keep your promise that is."
"I already told you I would."
"You better."
"Get on with it will you?"
"Fine fine... Well, My father and your mother were good friends growing up. He told me that her parents worked for our family. Your grandmother practically raised him and your grandfather took care of his horses. So he and your mother sorta grew up side by side." He explains. Lavender frowns.
"So?"
"So... My father felt close to her. And in fact, he still talks about her. A lot honestly. It drives my mother wild... I reckon he was in love with her. "
"In love with my mother you mean?"
"Well he never said it aloud but it's easy enough to guess. I bet that's why he's determined I marry you. He says you look just like her. Ferrin too."
"What does this have to do with her crossing the river? Why did she?"
"Ah... Well, No one believed her, but she claimed that across the river was a temple for the Goddess. Your mother was a devote worshiper y' know. She was even asked to be high priestess. She turned it down oddly enough."
"That tells me nothing. How did she cross?" Lavender hisses. Hierance shrugs.
"Who knows honestly. She did so every day apparently. It's beyond me how."
Lavender furrows her brow as she listened. She realized the more she did that she knew absolutely nothing about her mother. Lavender pushes away the thought.
"The temple, does it actually exist?" She asks. Hierance listens and shrugs again.
"No one but her claimed to have been there. But I don't doubt it. Sometimes I swear that you can see It's top on a clear day." He speculates. Lavender looks across the river and high into the distance. She couldn't see anything but dark silhouettes of trees and a sky full of stars. He tilts his head and looks at her.
"She kept a journal. Two actually. Alfred had one. She died with the other." He says. Lavender frowns.
"How do you know this?"
"My father has been trying to buy the first one from yours. He won't sell it though." Hierance states. Lavender thinks about her father. So he didn't forget her entirely? She always wondered though.
"Do you think it'll say how to cross?" She asks curiously. Hierance glances towards the rushing water.
"It may," He says. Just then, a light flickered in the distance across the sky. He narrows his eyes, looking over the treetops. It was growing brighter. Lavender also notices this. She looks towards it. A purple glow, dim in the far and high distance. A shiver runs down her spine. Hierance focuses on it, not shifting his gaze.
"What in the depths?" He questions. Just then there was a thud behind him, and the sound of shattering glass. The lantern went out. The dark-skinned boy turns. Lavender had collapsed to the ground. Her breathing was heavy and her eyes had rolled to the back of her skull. Her entire body began to twitch. Hierance widens his eyes, dropping down to her side.
"Lavender?" He questions, grasping her shoulder. He looks over her frantically, unsure of what to do. What could he do? He reaches under her, lifting her torso from the ground. She twitches violently, her mouth hanging open. He glances towards the purple light again, which grew brighter, and then back down to the girl in his arms.
This couldn't be a coincidence.