The following morning, I open my eyes and they feel weak. I can only assume they are red and swollen. I imagine the mirror would reflect a stranger - someone hollow and haunted, who has stared into the abyss of grief for too long. I don't get up to check; the thought is too daunting.
Eldrian enters the room quietly, bearing a tray laden with a simple breakfast. His expression is careful as he sets it down on a small table by my bedside. He doesn't say anything, but his silent support is appreciated more than he likely knows.
I thank him weakly, forcing myself to taste the bland bread and sip the warm broth. Eldrian watches me silently from his perch on the edge of my bed, his golden eyes filled with concern.
After a while, he gets up to leave, promising to be close by if I need anything. As he steps out, his gaze lingers for a moment longer, heavy with unspoken words before he finally leaves me alone.
There's an iron weight in my chest that refuses to shift no matter how hard I try. It's a physical manifestation of my emotional torment. I sit there, staring blankly at the wall opposite me; my mind replaying memories like a broken record – memories that now surfaced only torments me further.
As I close my eyes, I let myself drift back into the comfort of sleep, bringing my sorrow with me into the world of dreams.
***
Suddenly, a loud bang jolts me awake. My heart races as I try to determine the source of the noise. Then, another crash echoes through the quiet house. I quickly get out of bed and make my way towards the bedroom door. Eldrian had made sure the house was secure and safe before we stayed here, but it sounds like there is a fight happening downstairs.
Realization hits me like a ton of bricks, and I quickly make my way towards the stairs. My feet make no sound on the chilly wooden floorboards as I run. The whole house seems to shake beneath me, the sounds of a fierce battle growing louder and closer.
I reach the top of the stairs and cautiously peer through the banister. It's a scene of chaos - furniture overturned, broken glass glinting in the dim light that struggles to filter through the dirty windows. In the middle of it all is Eldrian, locked in combat with a mysterious figure cloaked in shadows.
Is it a Fae or a Fae monster? I don't pause to think. Eldrian has been incredibly helpful, and I owe him my loyalty in return. But I am unarmed. I nervously chew on my lip as I scan the area for something, anything, that could be used as a weapon. My eyes fall on an old, tarnished fire poker resting by the fireplace. Without a second thought, I dart forward to grab it, hoping against hope that my sudden movement doesn't draw attention. To my relief, Eldrian and the figure remain engrossed in their battle.
I grip the cold iron tightly as I approach them warily from behind. There's a moment of stillness that stretches like an eternity as I stand there, uncertainty gnawing at me. And then suddenly, the figure lunges towards Eldrian with a speed that takes me by surprise.
"No!" The cry rips through my throat just as I lunge forward, swinging the fire poker at the figure with all my might. A guttural scream echoes through the room as the poker collides with its body. It turns towards me with a snarl, revealing a grotesque face hidden beneath the shadowy cloak - pointed ears like a Fae's but eyes glowing with a monstrous fury, grotesque and inhuman.
In the split second of its attention swiveled towards me, Eldrian seizes the moment and charges. He moves with such blinding speed that he's almost a blur, his golden eyes blazing bright in the dim room. With a swift, decisive jab, he plunges his weapon into the creature's back. It howls, a tortured sound that reverberates through the room and sends shivers down my spine.
The figure tries to retaliate but its movements are sluggish, weakened by the sudden attacks from both sides. Eldrian takes advantage of its weakened state and strikes again, this time aiming for its head. With one final ear-splitting screech, it collapses onto the floor, unmoving.
Eldrian stands there panting heavily, a trickle of blood sliding down his cheek from a shallow cut near his eyebrow. His eyes meet mine in a silent exchange. The corners of his mouth quirk up in gratitude before he wipes away the blood with the back of his hand.
I release a breath I didn't realize I was holding, dropping the fire poker to the floor where it clatters loudly against the hardwood. My knees feel weak; my whole body trembles with adrenaline.
"Eldrian," I whisper, my voice shaky and barely audible amidst the silence that has descended upon us. "Are you alright?"
He nods wordlessly as he trudges toward me, his steps heavy with fatigue but still steady. As he gets closer, he stumbles slightly -- evidence of an injury hidden beneath his clothes.
"Sit down," I command gently as I guide him to an overturned chair. He complies without protest, sinking gratefully into it as he lets out a tired sigh. I rush to his side, my own pains forgotten as I look upon him, battered and bleeding but alive.
His golden eyes meet mine, and in them, I see no trace of fear or regret - only a calm resolve that sends a shiver down my spine. He has fought valiantly, sacrificed his safety for mine, and for that, I am grateful beyond words.
I reach out to gingerly touch the cut on his cheek, my heart pounding in my chest at the thought of how close he had come to being seriously hurt. Yet he had offered no complaint, only insisting on fighting until the danger was neutralized. It's an act of bravery that leaves me both awed and slightly scared.
"Eldrian," I murmur again, my voice choked with emotion. "You could have been killed."
"But I wasn't," he replies simply. His tone is placid despite the gravity of what we've just been through. It's as though this sort of thing is a common occurrence for him; maybe it is.
I gently dabbed some antibacterial solution over his gash as I asked, "What happened?"
"It was a creature from the land of Fae. I'm not sure if it sensed me or you, Sam. Unfortunately, in the human realm, I am unable to use magic or heal like I could in my own realm. The consequences for using magic here are severe, even for a king like myself. But thank you, Sam for coming to my aid. I can see the hunter in you."