Dear Harry

Harry

Harry ran a hand through his hair, sighing through his teeth. He read the letter again, and again. He swore out loud, staring at the door. Camden was due home any minute… He didn't know how long he could avoid the subject matter brought to his attention. He knew it was smarter of Emma to do it this way, but, gosh he hated for it to be him to break the news.

Dear Harry,

I know you didn't expect any letters from me, but, I'm asking you to do this for Camden. To make a very long story short, the four of us were ordered by Audenzitios through a blood oath, to take down the barrier around the island. She undoubtedly has another plan in mind. But we have been stalling. Audenzitios thought it would be prudent to send a reminder.

She has the remainder of her army scattered about the continent, and she sent one of her soldiers after Gisa. The creature all but killed her before he was apprehended. She fought back as best as she could, but she is still new to magic. She and the creature exhausted their magic sources and then fought hand to hand. The creature was over six feet in stature, with wings and talons and claws. Each of them was laced with poison. The creature managed a blow on her face, and struck her with the poison in multiple different places. There was a shard of glass puncturing her neck, her legs were covered in wounds. A few of her bones were broken.

They rushed her to the nearest hospital as fast as they could. Gisa's magic managed to keep the poison at bay, but we aren't sure at this moment if she'll live. Her lungs were filling with blood, her throat was punctured by the glass, it isn't looking good, Harry. The doctors… they're giving her a few days at most before her lungs and heart and other organs can no longer take the strain. Her magic will run out and her mortal strength won't be able to keep up the pace.

The reason I'm writing to you is because, well, we weren't sure what Camden would do. How he would react. This is shocking news to deliver. And I hate to be the one to write, but he deserves to know. He needs to. You need to deliver the news for us.

In the envelope there is also an unfinished letter from Gisa as well as a few photos she was going to send. Even though the letter is unfinished, I sent it anyway, just in case Gisa doesn't ever get to finish it. I'm sorry to put all of this on you Harry, but you know Camden the best.

-Emma

Harry examined the letter, brushing his fingers over the wrinkled portions of the page, where the ink had started to blur. Tears. She was crying. In all of his years of knowing Emma, she'd never cried, not that he'd seen. He both did, and very much did not, want to see Gisa's condition… But from the date this letter was written. He covered his mouth with his hand. She could very well be dead.

He put his hands against his temples, inhaling deeply…

"Harry, why the long face?" Camden slammed the door shut behind him. Harry said nothing, not opening his eyes. "Harry."

"Camden… something's gone very much wrong. I… Man let's take a walk." Harry stood up, taking the envelope with him, stuffing the letter back in.

They exited the building silently, neither one saying anything as they walked down the frozen streets. Vendors were shouting their wares over the din, trying to get them to buy chestnuts and bricks to heat and mittens and scarves… The noises made Harry's head spin as they walked towards the empty fields where the flea markets were usually held.

Harry turned to face him. "I don't expect you to be calm. I don't expect you to act rationally—"

"Harry, what are you talking about? This isn't funny." his breath froze in front of him, blending into the other frozen mist around them.

"Camden… it's Gisa, and things don't look good." He sighed, meeting Camden's eyes. "Just… take a look."

Harry handed him a letter. Camden could tell it was from Emma, not only by her name at the bottom, but by the neat script marching across the page. "Dear Harry…" he whispered as he read it. His eyes flew across the page. Harry watched as his friend's face paled. Watched as Camden clutched the letter so tightly, his knuckles whitened. "No, no… no…" he whispered, his eyes darting back to the top of the page, scanning it over again.

Harry swallowed once, watching as his friend stumbled backwards as if punched in the gut. His mouth tightened into a hard line. He couldn't look anymore as his friend read the letter again. "Camden,"

"Give me… give me a second…" He took a few steps across the field. The only noise was the crunching of the frozen sickly grass and the whirling wind.

Harry sighed heavily, pulling the pictures and a half finished letter from Gisa out of the envelope. "Camden, these are also for you."

Wordlessly, Camden accepted the papers, unfolding the letter, his eyes avoiding the pictures. Harry turned away, watching the shrouding, cold mist tumble by until Camden choked on something.

"Camden."

"Harry I can't lose her..." his voice was already raw, the words as heavy as stones. Camden slumped to the ground, ignoring the freezing temperatures. He put a hand to his forehead. "Why… How could this happen?"

Harry sat down beside him, trying not to wince as the frost melted, soaking into his pants. He put a hand on Camden's shoulder, the two of them staring off into the fog for a long while.