Between Two Hates - Chapter Three (unfinished)

The night sky was star-less and cloudy. Fog drifted in from the south, causing the forest to look eery and foreboding. An owl, brown as a tree's bark, drifted through the branches on soft wings. A soft "hoo" echoed about the quiet forest. The cold air coming from the south caused the owl to retreat from it's hunt, finding a safe place for the winter. During the quiet night, a small snow flake fell to the frozen ground.

~

Cold swept past the woolen blankets, causing the sick girl to shiver in her sleep. Adelaide's appearance had changed since her horrible fever. Her hair was dirty and stringy, her eyes were blood shot, and her face was pale with the loss of energy. She had still not waken from her slumber, but it was apparent that her fever had broken and she was just asleep.

Stefan was in his usual spot, leaning against a tree, but instead of carving, he was staring into the fire, exhausted. He hadn't slept a full night's sleep since Adelaide first got sick. It had been a few hours since her fever broke and Stefan knew he should try to sleep, but he couldn't bring himself to slumber until she awoke and he knew she was alright. It was an odd feeling, being so worried about someone. He wasn't even that worried for his own safety.

Exhaustion overcame the teenaged soldier. His eyes began to close on their own accord. He felt his shoulders slump and sleep overcome him. With a start, Stefan awoke himself. His eyes were unfocused as he tried to stay awake. Finally, he couldn't take it any longer. He laid his head against the tree and let his mind fall, instantly, into a deep slumber.

It was a soft moan that awoke him. It puzzled him how such a soft sound could awake him so violently. He started awake, his eyes searching for the owner of the sound. He looked down next to him, where Adelaide lay. She was looking around, her eyes tired. She seemed confused and scared. He laid a hand on her shoulder, she looked up at him, her eyes going wide with freight.

Then she screamed.

Her scream pierced the quiet night. Her screams awakened the entire forest, it seemed. Owls hooted, surprised from their slumber. Mice scurried in the underbrush. The fire even seemed to dance higher and more hurriedly. Stefan did his best to quiet her. She continued to scream, acting as if she were terrified of him. She pushed him away, trying to back away into the dark gloom about them. Stefan finally grabbed her, pulling her back and holding her tightly until she stopped fighting.

Her breathing was heavy as Stefan held her against him. Her chest rose and fell, her eyes continued to stare at him, frightened beyond belief. He tried to sooth her with soft sounds in her ear, but she didn't seem to relax until he loosened his hold on her and held her gently. One last look at him and her entire body fell to the ground.

He started forward, hovering over her to see what happened. Then he saw that she had only passed out. Confusion and puzzlement overcame him them. What had happened? Why was she so afraid of him? He sighed, picking her up and placing her back on the bed of blankets. He covered her against the chill and went back to his own bedroll. The more he pondered what had happened to her, the more his puzzlement increased.

Finally, no answer coming to him, Stefan laid down to sleep, his entire body melting into the ground. It wasn't comfortable, that much was true, but he was so tired that it didn't matter.

~

A moan from her lips and flutter of her eyes caused Stefan to stir in his light slumber. Adelaide’s eyes opened, squinting from the harsh light. She licked her chapped, dry lips and searched for Stefan. Her mind raced and her heart pounded for unknown reasons. Then she heard the soft breath of her rescuer. She looked over and there he was, sleeping, but nearly awake. She blinked, trying to let her eyes focus to the light. Her stomach growled with intense hunger. She licked her lips yet again, parched for something to drink. The arms were too weak to reach for the canteen full of water.

Stefan turned on his bed roll, mumbling in his half-slumber. Finally, he seemed to give up on remaining asleep and sighed, his brown eyes opening. He didn’t seem to notice that Adelaide was awake and she couldn’t speak from the weakness of hunger and thirst. He sat up, his thin shirt drenched with sweat. She couldn’t concentrate. She needed water. A moan, soft and just barely heard over the sounds of the morning. Stefan tensed, his eyes searching as he turned to look at her. She opened her dry lips, begging with her eyes for something to drink.

Stefan understood immediately, taking hold of his canteen and rushing to her side. She felt instant relief as the water cooled her burning throat. She sighed taking a few more drinks before clearing her throat. She knew she should speak, but Stefan was acting strangely. His eyes were on her face, watching her for some reason. He seemed to be waiting for some sort of reaction. Adelaide became suspicious of him, her mind too weak with fatigue to understand his concern and interpret it correctly.

“Adelaide...” he began softly, her eyes looked up at him, unsure of what was wrong, “Do you know who I am?” His question confused her. Of course she knew he was. What a silly question. They’d been together for how long? But why was she so weak? Feeling as if she had slept forever with no food. Through her confusion, she nodded at him, clearing her throat to answer properly.

“Y... yes, Stefan.” She could hardly speak the words, her voice so hoarse. Stefan looked much relieved at her words. She was even more confused, but fatigue caused her to abandon her questions and wish to sleep. Stefan smiled, his face seeming to become ever more boyish. She felt a slight smile touch her own lips as she drifted off.

~

“ADELAIDE!” Christophe screamed. His eyes were wild with worry and he walked alongside Daniel for support. Where was she? The search team that accompanied them yelled for the girl also, asking for her in French. Christophe looked to Daniel, his eyes full of worried question. Daniel shook his head, patting his friend on the shoulder.

They had been searching for weeks with no relief. Christophe blamed himself. Had he not wandered away from her for that split second to go after that deer, she would still be with them. Panic rose in him as the sky darkened. This was the last night of searching. It had been nearly three weeks since she disappeared and the mayor of Toul, a rich and foolish man, did not care about the daughter of a poor farmer.

Christophe’s heart seemed to stop as the yell from the other party came to them. It was over!? The search was over. Tears came to his eyes. He had failed her. The girl he had wanted to marry. He failed her forever. The man leading the search parties came to Christophe and Daniel, placing a hand on Christophe’s shoulder. His eyes were sad as he regarded the friends.

“I’m deeply sorry,” he said in French, “But we could not find her. She is dead.”

A sudden wave of anger burst through Christophe at the man’s words. He pushed the man’s hand from his shoulder and glared with intensity he hadn’t known he possessed.

“Did we once search German country? Hm!?” The man seemed surprised, but understood his anger. It was common knowledge that Christophe was to propose to Adelaide and he knew that love could not be let go so easily.

“Christophe, Je suis trés desolé. We cannot go through German country. You know this.” Christophe shook his head, his grief causing irrational anger in him, “Besides, the snow is getting more and more hard,” he gestured to the thick blanket of snow that covered everything, “If we do not go back now, we will be stuck out here for all of winter. The snow comes harder and faster, blizzards are normal for this time of year. I do not want my men to be trapped. We will not survive if this happens.”

The search team leader nodded to Daniel, who nodded in return and led Christophe away by the arm. The man sighed, looked down to his feet for a moment of remembrance of the now presumed dead girl. Then, with yet another sigh, he waved his arm to signal the end of the search.

~