We ate together with our family.
Demelza and Mother were pretty soaked. Granny only really had one glass.
My grandfather participated in a few sacrifices, but she didn't wanna overdo it. As a healer, she needs her wits sharp in case something does happen.
Eli, me, and Liz brought over plates full of cheese and sausage, grapes, apples, and bread. Also, sweet sugar brittle for the kids.
For a long time, we just ate the made various promises not to drink ever again.
I quite enjoyed it, and after all this food, I felt great.
" They should be heading back by now..the sun almost setting. " - granny looked outside and slowly got up.
" Eli, come with me, and let's prepare in case of anything. I'm sure they didn't fight unless they had to. But let's be safe."
" Granny, what do you mean by if they didn't have to?" - I reached up and took her hand.
She stopped in her tracks and turned to me with a light smile.
" It's nothing, Lylly.. on very, very rare cases this time of year. Emet comes out his hiding early. " - she addressed those who now paid attention.
" He gets too hungry, so once a few decades, it happens.. we have the same date in middle August, so he really shouldn't be out." - got ready to leave again. " Divine monster are a mystery.. we don't know where they came from or why."
Her words didn't calm me one bit.
From the looks of Demelza and Liz, they didn't know either. Granny saw us getting worried, so she went on.
" It doesn't happen maybe every forty or fifty years, if that. There are reasons no one knows because it hasn't happened for so long. " - with a nostalgic look she kept going. " If not, for my own mother, I wouldn't know myself."
Those numbers scared me even more.
If what she say in anyway accurate, then we overdo for one, and my Zephyr is up there. I felt those previous fears rush me like the wind. What if..
" You all need to calm down!! " - she raised her voice and put both her hands up. " This year won't be the one. And we never know anyway. The men will soon return, and then you all see. Now, Eleanor, let's go."
She left but the previous happy atmosphere went with her. In the silence, I know Demelza and Liz have the same thoughts I'm having.
I looked out the window and saw the mountain in the background it was majestic, it's peak will never be explored all up above the clouds.
He was there alive and coming back to me, just like he promised.
" Vistellia is right.. it's pointless to worry. They will be soon announced by the gate guards." - Demelza did her best as an experienced veteran at this to calm us. " They already headed back, laughing and joking around."
Liz soon became more positive as well . " Demelza is right. All we can do is wait. From the looks of it..it might another few hours maybe less, if they made good time."
Wait. Right, what else can I do?
I went and sat next to Ilianna and let her presence calm me down. Or at least take my mind off from those words Granny told us. Few more hours..
Time went by a turtles pace.
I felt every minute, and the silence among us didn't help pass the time. Demelza and I put the kids to bed who were up early and nodded off when it got dark, and walked back the main hall.
" It's close, right?" - I looked up at the moons and counted in my head.
" Hmm..let's head to the gate and wait there." - Demelza went ahead with quick steps, and I matched her pace.
We went and were joined by some from the hall along the way.
More and more did but, then road was dark ahead, and night time officially came. Time speed up, and there were no signs of them still.
" Something happened.."
Someone voiced everyone's concerns.
Then, from the far-off distance, we saw the light of torches and then man who carried them.
I don't know who started running but, before I knew I was close enough to them to see.
They carried someone on a quickly made stretcher. It was a blue haired man who changed everything..
I saw him and from my eyesight catched Alexander walking to me and saying... words.
But all sound disappeared so I couldn't make them out. He looked dead. He died.. he was, he was...
"..EN TO ME LYLLY. HE IS NOT DEAD! "
He shocked me hard by my shoulders, and it managed to wake me up. All sounds returned all at once.
" Lylly..he is alive...Emet is dead."Lucian voice came somewhere, but I didn't look.
It was too much.
I didn't question him. I just watched Granny check upon Zephyr. I forgot to breathe as she did her best to feel his heartbeat.
" He is alive..his heart beats strong!!! "
I knelt beside his body and put my hand on his chest. It was warm. He wasn't bleeding or looked otherwise injured.
I placed my ears close to his mouth. I felt tiny little wind currents caressing my ears and hair. I left my forehead on his and listened until my heart and mind believed he was fine.
I heard conversations behind me.
" Emet is dead..h-he-he was.. he ambushed us. Didn't bother with the animals. it just went straight for us!! He killed and ate Rick.. There almost nothing left. H-he was crushed, broken.."
I turned and saw Alexander telling his wife what had happened. He seemed unharmed too.. they all were.
" Calm down, Jartok!! " - granny pushed people away to clear the road. " We need to take Zephyr in the hall, and then, you tell us everything."
The man gently nudged me aside and lifted him with care.
Alexander pushed one of them away and lifted him with sure hands. I stayed as close as possible without hindering their movements.
Zephyr face was calm, and no matter what angle, I looked.. he was just sleeping.
I felt an enormous weight off my chest and got further away not to distract them. I felt my mother's hand on my shoulders.
" He is not dead, Lylly..."
I couldn't hold back my tears and buried my face into her hair. They were tears of relief.
" Pull yourself together, honey. " - she grabbed me by my shoulders and set my priorities straight.
" He needs you when he wakes up. Make sure to by his side."
She was right..
I wiped tears away and went ahead with renewed steps.
Inside the hall, Zephyr was placed near the fire in the middle of it.
And was surrounded by a bunch of people. I pushed my way there and sat right next to him.
He looked like .. how he always did.
He hair was wet and his shirt damp with sweat but other than that..fine. Good..now I turned to Alexander, who was just starting his story.