Blue Rose, Part VI

“Ye’ve been so quiet today.”1

Mari looked up at Sundan. She had dark shadows under her eyes, and her smile seemed forced. She must not have been sleeping well the past few nights. Understandable, since she wasn't used to sleeping on the ground. “I—I simply have nothing to say.”2

Nothing to say? He had been attempting to make conversation with her all day! It got boring quickly, trudging along in the endless woods. He had attempted to make a game of counting every branch he saw, but that, too, got boring. He was intrigued by this lovely witch, and wanted to know more about her.3

When the sun was high in the sky, Sundan’s stomach grumbled. He put a hand on it. “Do ye ‘ave any more food that ye brought?”4

She sighed and stopped walking. Opening the sack (orginally a handkerchief) that she was holding, she shook her head. “Nothing but crumbs,” She said sadly, shaking the few crumbs onto the ground.5

He looked around. “Well, I need t’ eat somethin’. And soon. Ye’re a healer; ye know herbs. Is there anythin’ in these woods we could eat?”6

She searched around the area where they had stopped for awhile, but all the herbs and plants she saw were for healing purposes only, poison, or had a horrible taste. “I see nothing,” She said finally, making her way back to where Sundan was leaning against a tree. “But I believe I can hunt, if you have a weapon.”7

He nodded. He had forgotten about the dagger he always carried around with him. It had saved his neck more than once, and he never let it out of his sight. Unfortunately, he had grown up in a town where no one hunted for food, so he had never learned the skill. He was surprised when she said she knew how. “Ye…ye can hunt? But ye’re a—” He stopped himself before he finished the sentence with the word “girl”. Somehow, she didn’t seem the type of woman who was scared of mice, who lived only to flirt with men, who got picked on by the village boys when she was younger.8

Whether he finished the sentence or not, she seemed to know what he was going to say. “I know, but that hasn’t stopped me before.” She took the blade from him and closely examined it. Nice and sharp. “Where did you get this?”9

He scowled. “I stole it from my brothers. How’re ye gon’ hunt with a dagger, anyway?” It was easiest to catch small, quick animals with bow and arrows, and it took great skill to throw a dagger at the target.10

“Growing up, my mother and I were self-sufficient. We killed and made our own food, our clothes, chopped our own firewood. She taught me how to hunt when I was twelve—with bow and arrows and knives—and I have been doing so ever since. Mind you, she taught me only to hunt if it was necessary, and I would never kill for sport.”11

Before he could say anything further, she put a finger to her mouth to quiet him, and crept into the wilderness. He watched, amused, as she crouched down behind a bush, focusing on a hare. He had to admit to himself that with her hair down, falling over her shoulders and down her back, holding the dagger, she looked like a mythical goddess. The only thing wrong with the picture was her dress, a simple peasant’s dress. But she made even THAT look amazing.12

Suddenly she whipped the dagger, surprising Sundan. She seemed to be doing that often. “Got it!” She cried. She carried it back to Sundan. Seeing him look squeamish, she smiled. “Will you have the honor of taking the skin off?” She said, smiling.13

He knew she was teasing him, so he smiled back. He stood and gave a mocking bow. “If it would please m’ lady, the Warrior Goddess,” He said, though he didn’t get any nearer to the thing.14

“Pretending you love me will never get old with you, will it?” She asked, sitting down and preparing the hare for cooking.15

“Pretending? Who’s pretending?” He wouldn’t admit to himself how much he enjoyed seeing that bit of color come to her cheeks whenever he complimented her.16

“Start the fire,” She told him in a commanding tone. 17

He gave a sad attempt at it, but finally gave up, throwing his hands in the air. "Town folks aren’t meant t’ hunt and start fires. Ye can do it, when ye’re done wi’ that disgusting thin’.”18

“What, this?” She asked innocently, holding what was left of the hare in front of his face.19

“Never mind, I dun ‘ave such an appetite anymore.”20

“You will,” She assured him and started a fire within seconds. She waited patiently until it was large enough, and, putting the meat on the dagger, held it over the fire. Eventually, it started to smell amazing, and Sundan’s stomach grumbled with hunger once again.21

Needless to say, they had a wonderful meal that evening, enough to (hopefully) last them the rest of the next day.22

*   *   *23

That night, Mari couldn’t sleep. Well, more like she wouldn’t allow herself to sleep. She listened to the birds calling one another, the trees whispering, a wolf or two howling in this distance. Why did nature wait until night to begin communicating with each other?24

But she knew it wasn’t the noise keeping her awake. During the day, walking with Sundan, she could take her mind off of the strange things that had happened the day and night before, but not at nighttime. She knew she should sleep, since they’d be walking all day the next day and she hadn’t slept well for the last few nights. But she feared she would have that dream again.25

She laughed at herself quietly. Maybe she was being foolish, maybe the dream meant nothing. It was just a nightmare that had startled her. Yes, that must be it.26

In the back of her mind, she knew that wasn’t it.27

She didn’t sleep for the next night, either, or the next. It seemed the deeper they travelled into the uncharted woods, the more the dream scared her, and the more she forced herself to stay awake. She would not, could not close her eyes…28

*   *   *29

Mari’s eyes were half closed, and she was mumbling quietly to herself. Sundan knew something was terribly wrong, but couldn’t bring himself to ask what was troubling her. She seemed to be so secretive around him. Besides the fact that they had met because Sundan had stolen all of Mari’s money, he had given her no reason not to trust him.30

“Don’t go to sleep…” He heard her say.31

“Ye look exhausted, Mari. Ye must rest.”32

“No!” She snapped at him, stumbling forward and almost falling. “We need to keep walking.” He sighed, obeying her command. Strange, that she even sounded commanding while half asleep. In any case, he put her arm around his shoulders for support.33

Eventually, though, he grew tired. The sun was low in the sky, and he sat down, laying her beside him. He thought she was asleep, but she whispered, “Keep going…don’t stop walking…”34

He stood up. “What’s wrong with ye?” He cried. “Ye refuse t’ go t’ sleep fer some reason. We’re partners in this now, whether ye like it er not, and I won’t allow ye t’ keep a secret from me any longer.”35

She looked up at him, then sighed. “I don’t want to go to sleep.”36

He nodded. “Yes, I’ve noticed. But ye’re gonna kill yerself if ye dun sleep. Ye’re gonna walk yerself t’ death.”37

“I’m scared to go to sleep. I’ve had a nightmare.” The voice was so quiet, so scared, like a child’s. 38

He couldn’t help but feel pity for her, and all his anger diminished. “A nightmare? That’s all? Well, I’m sure ye won’t dream the same thing twice in a row—what’re the chances of that? Ye’re so tired now, ye’ll probably sleep too deeply t’ dream.” She smiled, somewhat reassured. “Now,” He said, “Stay here and I’ll look for a good area t’ stay fer the night.”39

She settled her head onto a log, and he walked away. All he saw around him were trees, and he realized how tired he was of them. He wouldn’t mind if, once they were finally out of this quiet, peaceful hell, he never saw a tree again. He would live in the desert, if that’s what it would take.40

After searching around for a little while, he heard distant voices. He crept towards them; he had to be catious. He pushed some leaves out of his way, and was amazed at what he saw. It was not only a clearing, but a small village. Not a regular village, though—no civilized person would live this deep in the woods—but it was an ancient tribe. Their houses, he noted, were made of mud, clay, and sticks. They wore an indecent amount of clothes, and they were setting something up in the middle of the circle that the houses formed. It looked like a large table.41

Sudan took a deep breath, gathering some courage, and started walking towards them. As he drew near, some of them looked his way and pointed. Soon the whole village saw him, and he felt embarassed. Some people stayed back, afraid, and some rushed towards him with excitement. He must be as strange to them as they were to him.42

“Hello,” He said. “I’ve come t’ ask if we—me and my friend—could stay ‘ere fer the night. Well, er, more than a night, maybe a couple o’ days.”43

They stared at him, then someone called something out. It was in a different language. Eventually, Sundan got the people to understand by using hand motions, and they nodded and smiled. He went back to get Mari, and knew that all would be well.44

*   *   *45

Mari woke up on a bed of straw in a small hut. What was this? Where was she? Was Sundan around?46

Just then, an unfamiliar woman walked in the hut. She wore a skirt above her knees and her shirt went above her navel. What the clothes were made of, Mari couldn’t tell. The woman’s long red hair was down to her waist, and she wore no shoes. She smiled at Mari.47

“Where am I?” Mari asked this strange woman.48

The woman shook her head and pulled Mari’s arm, as if wanting her to get out of the bed. Mari did so, and the woman led her to a lake, a beautiful, scenic lake. The woman tried to take Mari’s dress off, but she squealed, “No!” And put her arms protectively over her dress. The woman rolled her eyes and pointed to the lake. Mari now understood. “Oh, you want me to bathe?” This made her laugh a bit. Of course, she hadn’t bathed in awhile and must’ve looked horribly frightening. She shooed the woman away and bathed herself. It felt so good, the cool water against her in the heat. She drank greedily, and washed her hair and body with some crudely made soap that the woman had left. Finally, she dried off in the sun and got dressed again.49

She went back to the village she had walked through in order to get to the lake, and saw the woman standing outside with a crowd of other women. They grew excited as they saw her approach. They pulled her inside a hut and dressed her in one of their tribal outfits. She blushed, seeing how much skin showed. How barbaric! She couldn’t wait to leave this place. And yet, they had been so kind to her.50

They tried to take off her necklace and give her a necklace of shells, but this she refused. One of them combed out her hair, a task which had been greatly needed, and was now greatly painful. Before painting her lips and eyes and putting rouge on her cheeks, they gave Mari a glorious meal of fruits and meats. She felt full for the first time in a long time.51

Finally, they gave her a strange drink. It wasn’t wine, she was sure, but seemed about as strong. Her eyes lowered against her will, and…she…52

*   *   *53

Sundan sat against a wall made of mud, clay, and sticks, four men surrounding him. Four large men. His wrists were tied behind his back. So much for hospitality! He just prayed they weren’t abusing Mari, too. That was his worst fear. If they were hurting her, his anger would get out of control and who knew what he would do? He had given up on plotting his escape; unless a miracle happened, it wasn’t likely he would get past these men by himself. He was outnumbered.54

So instead, he tortured himself with “what ifs?”. What if they murdered Mari? What if they murdered him? What if they took her as a slave or a wife? What if…55

Finally, an old, frail man came in and barked an order at the men. Two of them grabbed Sundan by the arms and led him to his fate.56

His fate, as it appeared, would be the middle of the circle, where the large table was. They stood there as a crowd gathered. Finally, a circle of women came out of a hut. In the middle of their crowd was Mari.57

Sundan blinked. He hardly recognized this girl. She looked like…like one of them, except even more beautiful. He couldn’t take his eyes off of her.58

As everyone stared at her, she stared right back at them. After the old man said some words to the crowd, they cheered as Mari was led to the large table. Unsmiling, she looked ahead of her. Sundan expected to see confusion and maybe fear on her face, but instead there was some kind of unsettling peace. “Mari!” He called out to her, causing the guards to grip him even tighter. She looked back, but seemed to look right through him.59

When Mari and her escorts approached the large table, they layed her down on it. What the…? Sundan thought. Were they planning to kill her? He couldn’t look, and yet he couldn’t look away. The old man spoke some more, and all the people raised their hands up and looked at the sky.60

As they chanted what must’ve been a prayer of some sort, a woman raised a knife over Mari. Sundan shook so badly that he feared his legs would fail him. She couldn’t die, not now, not in this way. Why didn’t she try to fight them?61

Suddenly, Mari sat up, causing the woman with the knife to jump back a bit. Mari yelled something in a language far different than this tribal language, but still unfamiliar to Sundan. Then she collapsed in a faint.62

And at her words it started to rain. But something didn’t seem quite right—the liquid was thick, sticky, and…red. Everyone gasped and shreiked. It was raining blood!63

The village ran around in complete chaos, rushing to their homes, their shelters. Somehow, Sundan didn’t seem bothered by it. Freed from the guards, he slowly walked up to Mari. He cut the rope that bound his hands with the knife that lay on the ground beside what he now knew was an altar. He took her as if she weighed nothing, and carried her away. Far away from what would forever be known as the Bleeding Circle. When he felt they were far enough away, he sat down on the ground, exhausted. He saw from a hill that the village was the only area being “rained” on, and the blood was drying quickly on Sundan and his sleeping warrior goddess. He held her against his chest and fell asleep.64