Chapter 23: Delusions *Asher*

My body was still; everything was silent and dark. I tried to recollect my thoughts, but I could not seem to think through this throbbing headache. Every breath seemed so painful and as I took a deep breath, the pain pressed harder. Then I remembered what had happened; only blurs of the past days, and that my lung had been slightly punctured.

Remembering small glimpses of Aliana's face, I could see her white fur that was slightly turning a dusky pink in some spots from blood. My alarms in my head went off and I began to panic, wondering where she was or what had happened to her; I could feel myself getting anxious and my breath was coming quickly. Suddenly a hand pressed against my shoulders. "Stop, calm down, it's alright." A soft voice spoke, almost sounding like Aliana but I knew it wasn't; it seemed to sound older and wiser. I kept blinking my eyes, but they did not seem to clear, I was surrounded in blackness; I had a wrap around my head and over my eyes. I felt someone sit on the side of the bed in front of me. I tried to speak but it caught in my throat, and I coughed and the more I coughed the more pain shot through my lungs. I clenched at my chest. "I 'am Aliana's mother." It seemed to be the Queen that pulled my hand away and held it gently, "Yes you seem to have been punctured quite a few times, but please try to rest; pretend you are half dead and just reviving…oh, wait? You are." She gave me a sad giggle and patted my hand gently then she got up and walked away; I could tell she did not leave the room. I heard her sit on another bed and whisper something, but I could not tell what she was saying or to whom she was speaking.

Suddenly I heard the Queen speak to someone else that was in the room, "Will her shoulder mend?" It must be a healer that she was speaking to, "It will, but not for a long while." I heard her sigh slowly, "Don't worry Aliana, I won't let anything happen to you again." I heard the wooden posts of the bed move as the Queen got up, I could feel her eyes on me. "What about the rogue?" her tone had a slight disgust to it, yet I could tell she cared. "The rogues have a remarkable healing method in their bodies compared to us; they heal much faster than we do. He should be fine by tomorrow, but will be sore for a few days, like he had just bruised himself." The healer seemed completely interested in my anatomy compared to Aliana's. "We are more vulnerable to illnesses though." I spoke to the healer as I could hear the interest in his voice.

Wanting to see her immediately, I began to fidget; I must make sure that she was not in a dire condition. Once I moved a little, I could not help but wince at the pain. Taking the fold from around my head I blinked my eyes open slowly. The first thing I saw must have been the Queen, she was standing in front of the healer; she turned to look at me. She was a very elegant woman with a small crown on her head, it had a small, pearly white stone in the center.

Then it hit me, my clan did not know about Aiden, and I was not there to tell them what had happened. What if he does something to them, what if he hurts my aunt and uncle, or even his own sister? My brain was swirling with possible tragedies that could happen. I unwrapped the cloth around my head and as I removed it from my eyes the bright light stung; I kept blinking, and my eyes slowly became clearer.

The Queen walked a few steps to stand in front of me her hands folded down by her hips. I looked up at her face to see it was staring at me confused, "Something wrong?" I choked a bit trying to get myself out of being panicked. "My clan… They don't know about the traitor…the one that attacked us." I shook my head frustrated and then stared at Aliana, "What if he convinces them to go to war with you? What if he kills them all off?" She took a step toward me and set her hand on my shoulder, "I can assure you that we will help in any way that we can. You've proven yourself by protecting two of my clan's women, one being my own daughter." I nodded her my thanks and gave a smile; as I started to get up out of the bed, my head throbbed, and my eyes spun around. I squeezed my eyes shut and then opened them again, they seemed clearer, so I took a few steps to where Aliana was still out, and I sat beside her. I took her hand in mine and touched my lips to the tips of her fingers.

Looking at her carefully and seeing all the scratches and bruises that were covering her skin, I gave a soft smile through my worry. Even all banged up she was still so elegant, still so beautiful. No one would ever think that this girl would be such a fighter. She has so much spirit to her, and so much worth fighting for; and she knows it. How could I have been so foolish to have let my guard down in front of Aiden; all this time that is exactly what he was waiting for. I grinded my teeth in anger and felt them grow into my canines as my anger was pouring out, but I suppressed it and held it back. I got up and kissed Aliana on the forehead then walked out of the room.

This was my first time in the village, in a castle, in enemy territory, but these people were no longer my enemy, but my soon to be allies. I had to help them as much as they are helping me; by saving my clan as well as their own clan. As I walked down the long hallway to the large staircase that led into the entryway of the castle, I looked back and then proceeded to the door. Queen Raina had suddenly stopped me before I pushed the door open. "Where do you think you're going so soon?" I dropped my hand from the door and turned to look at her; she was standing remarkably close to me, and her eyes were lined with my chin, but she looked up at me as if I was not at all any taller than her. When I went to respond I stuttered, "I…well I…, I'm not too sure where I'm headed." Then I thought, if I did go out the door, would the people of Telaerion accept me? Or would I need a guard escort to be safe. I was not sure about my own safety in this foreign place.

"Well, Asher, I suggest you stay here in the castle until the people get used to your presence in our village. A rogue has never stayed with us before." Her face was slightly hardened when she spoke to me but as she kept talking to me her face softened and her lips curled up in a short smile, "We have a guest room set up just down the hall from the infirmary right by the stairs; unless you prefer a dungeon room." She giggled and walked away into what seemed like a large kitchen that bent around a marble pillar.

I did not want to just sit in place… I needed to find out what was going on with my clan and what Aiden was up to. I looked around and saw a nicely windowed door that looked like it led into a garden area. I walked out the door and saw one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen with my own eyes. There were flowers of every color, every type; colorful blossoming trees that I never even knew existed. It was all so wonderful and smelled so great, it was overwhelming to me, and I did not know what to think. There was a small trail of stone that led around the back of the castle and a tiny creek that followed. At the end of the trail there was a small waterfall and a wooden bench with an archway covered in blossoming vines. I was in awe at such a sight, and it made my mind go into a shining place of happiness.

"Asher?" Then it got even more perfect, that voice, that beautiful voice that rung in my ears. I spun around and there she was, standing in front of me in a beautiful white gown. Her hair done so beautifully and elegantly with light blue flowers curling down the side, and a big blue rose right on the top. My heart throbbed, and I almost fell to my knees in awe at her beauty. I could never dream of anything so perfect. She smiled at me and as she reached for my hand, a sword went straight through her and red spilled over that white gown from her chest. I did not know what to do, I could not react, and I could not move. Then Aiden's smug face revealed beside her neck as he kissed her cheek that was now turning white. I had anger and sadness rising inside of me so quickly at the same time. The garden started to burst into flames and burnt so quickly. I suddenly got my feet back and lunged to save her. Then they both just vanished as easily as mist did, and in that mist, I saw a red gem, exactly like the one on the valcore prophetess.

I looked around and I was still in the same spot as I had been, staring at the bench with the vining arches. Everything still as green as it was; I was shaking, and my breath was heavy; I could feel my lungs starting to cramp, feeling as if it were going to collapse. Then just like that I fell into the soft green grass that covered the floor. I lay there, letting my mind swirl with what I had just seen. Was that a vision, a future memory, or a fear? I could not seem to tell but it was highly likely to happen; and it completely terrified me. Before I knew it, my eyes were closing; my breath slowing, and once more, blackness shrouded my eyes.