Darkthorn’s Blog

Julia was awoken by voices. A deep but beautiful voice was speaking from the next room where she could not see. She didn’t move as she feared that they might be the men that were meant to kill her. The man in the room turned and looked straight at her.

“Hi,” said Blackmain softly, ‘You have been asleep of two days now, how are you feeling?”

His voice was raspy, rather like Cimon’s. Julia was going to get up and run past the man but found that she could not feel her legs. She fell back onto the bed and the man called to his friend. As the owner of the lyrical voice came in Julia realized that he was an elf. She felt frightened from all her childhood tales of elves killing the people they found in their woods. Blackmain came closer and Julia settled down – he was not Cimon and neither was he an elf.

“You are not captive, you are severely injured. The men you were with burnt you and you nearly died from exposure. We’re here to help you, not finish the job.”

Julia looked around. It was a wooden cabin, simple, similar to the one in which she had grown up in while her mother was exiled. The shelves on the wall contained herbs and yet more hung from the rafters above her. She was obviously in the home of a healer then. They were known for their immunity to the King’s wishes, she would be safe here. Suddenly she realized that the King was dead. And Cimon, what had happened to the general?

Julia’s voice was husky and she had to clear her throat before she could continue. “What happened to the men who had taken me? Are they dead?”

Blackmain responded, “All but one. The leader I left.”

Julia knew Cimon would be looking for her. This man obviously didn’t know who she was, or who the General was. She was safe as long as she was anonymous. There had been no clothing to identify her as noble, she could be whoever she wanted. Her childhood name and life would do. “I’m June.”

“And I am Blackmain. You are in my house. You are safe here, no-one else comes this way.”

The elf stepped into the light and Julia cowered back. His face was disfigured by a scar down the side of his head. He was just like in the tales, more perfect than anything carved by a sculpter except for the scar. As he reached towards her she saw the scars running up his forearms, matching those of Blackmain. He lifted up the covers and Julia feebly tried to hold them down.

The elf spoke to Blackmain in a different language.

“It’s ok June, he just wants to check your wounds. He won’t harm you.”

Julia felt uncomfortable, but it was said that elves were never interested in other races. Blackmain noticed her watching him, and he turned away, feeling her discomfort.

As the elf lifted off her bandages Blackmain spoke, obviously trying to distract her from the pain.

“Tell me about yourself. My history is inconsequential, I have no life. I do not exist. This house does not exist. Iston does not exist.”

Julia realized that the elf’s name was Iston. “I grew up in a place similar to this.” She winced, the padding was stuck to her chest.

“My mother was poor, my father left her to travel. She was exiled by her own family when it was found that she was pregnant with me. I am nothing. I have no other past.”

Blackmain looked quizzically at her, surely there was more to this beautiful female. Her face, drawn with pain and swollen, still reflected her nature. No woman of common background could look like this: slender, with pale blonde hair and piercing green eyes. Yet behind that façade, Blackmain could sense her unhappiness.

“There is nothing to fear here. We will be safe from prying eyes and ears. The King himself wouldn’t have the power to intrude.”

At the sound of the King, Julia shuddered, and Iston shook his head at her.”

“Do not move. The pain will get worse if you do.”

Julia visibly restrained herself, trying to avoid looking at herself. She could tell from the large patches of numbness on her torso that large areas must have been burnt. Or perhaps the elf had some kind of power.

“What have you done to me?” Julia asked. “Why can’t I feel anything?”

The elf spoke to Blackmain, and Blackmain translated.

“You have extensive burns to your breasts and thighs, internal damage and you almost lost your toes. Your mental state is worried, and you are keeping something back from us that might assist your healing.”

Blackmain trailed off. Julia looked away. How could they tell what she was thinking? What else did she not know? She tried to clear her mind, but the thoughts kept on bombarding her. She wondered if they could tell she belonged to the King. Whether she was noble-born or not. The elf cringed back, her thoughts tumbled far too quickly for him to process them.

“Rest. Heal. We will talk then.”

Blackmain and Iston left Julia alone.