In Dreams: Red

The Stream

“Stop!” I scream, running in front of the beast as it readies itself to bound forward. Its ears lay back but the growling quiets. I run forward to the men.

“Is everything alright? Are we under attack?” My hidden blade is under my hand and ready to go should I need it. Reginald is asking me practically the same question at the same time.

“I apologize, my Lady.” Reg says.

“We saw the prisoner gone, and you and thought..” Tyrus explains, glancing nervously at the beast, who has crept up right behind me, almost protectively. I realize my mistake almost immediately and can understand their fear.

“No, I must apologize to you all. I am very sorry, I did not inform you I was leaving with the prisoner. We were looking for water for Lupus, and everyone else looked busy. I very much appreciate your concern, but the prisoner meant me no harm and came along because he was just as worried about letting me wander alone as you.” I inform them quickly to a growl of assent from the beast.

“So there is no emergency?” I ask Reginald.

“No, Lady.” He responds. I sigh in relief.

“Don't ever scare me by coming up behind me like that again! You three nearly lost your lives just now! I thought for sure those thieves had caught up with us. Don't you know how to announce yourselves?” The prisoner suddenly rages at the three men, who manage to look sheepish and affronted at the same time. After all, he is their prisoner, and somehow seemed to have subtly taken control. “And somebody give me a cloak or something already..” I can't help but turn my head away to hide my grin. I hadn't even noticed him change shape, he was so swift at it. Which I suppose should disturb me because it made him exceedingly dangerous, but I was actually more impressed than fearful.

By this time, Lupus has decided he is tired of the human antics and has wandered out of my sight. I call to him, and before too long he comes trotting towards me, obviously feeling partly refreshed. Reginald hands the prisoner his cloak while Corwin suggests the other horses might like a drink, observing Lupus' wet muzzle. I rub his neck while Corwin and Tyrus return for the other horses. The stream must be rather close, based on the water still dripping from Lupus, so I turn him back the way he came and start walking toward the sounds of water again, and as expected I see a small, noisy stream carving a path through the forest floor. Lupus quickly pulls ahead again to make his way to the water's edge impatiently to drink. I laugh lightly.

“I apologize if I interrupted you Lupus.” I shake my head. The flow of water is a balm to my soul and I stand staring at it. The water disappears into the forest to my right and from my left it splashes around a bend, and I wonder where the water comes from and leads to. I can't help but be transfixed by the way the water rolls over some of the stones in the stream, while others refuse to give to it, instead making the water move around them. If you concentrate carefully you can almost hear the individual noise the water makes around each set of stones. I trace the path of a fallen leaf as it navigates around the blockages in the stream and hear the voices of the men coming in our direction.

A soft step right behind me has me turning quickly, blade flashing from my waist to my hand to the throat of the person behind me in an instant. My wrist is captured seconds later and almost immediately I recognize it is the prisoner. He releases my wrist and the blade disappears, tucked into the hidden fold in my clothing again.

“I'm sorry.” I tell him.

“Don't be about that-but didn't we just go over this not wandering off alone thing?” He responds stiffly.

“I hate to agree, but he is right, my Lady.” Reginald speaks up, also stiffly. “We are only trying to look out for our Lady, and she seems intent on running off and putting herself in harm's way. Frequently.”

“I beg your pardon, my Lady, but you do seem to be taking off alone frequently and these places can be dangerous, you see. Though we do know our Lady can fend for herself.” Tyrus tries to smooth things over apologetically at the look on my face.

“Yes, and it seems to be happening more frequently since Silas dies, like you don't care any more. Well let me tell you something right now-Right Hand or not, we don't care if you don't care, because we care about you, and we WOULD care if something happens to you. WE know you don't need protection, but we worry about you and desperately want to keep you safe. So do us a favor, act like you care, even if you don't and let us take care to be sure you're safe.” Corwin angrily demands. I hold up my hands.

“Alright, alright! I surrender!” I yell, half amused. “I also apologize again. It's not that I don't care, it's just.. I'm trying to sort things out.. and sometimes I lose myself.. I don't mean to just wander off, I'm just not thinking too clearly.. I just.. I don't know how to deal with all of this right now. But I am trying. I know my responsibilities, and I apologize for losing it, I'm just.. working on it..” I stumble to express what I'm trying to say, how hard it is to be me and the me everyone expects and still deal with the death of Sila, the prisoner and his odd behavior, the deaths of the others and everything else, only to discover.. I can't.

“I'm just.. working on it..” I repeat softly. There is an awkward silence, and I can almost feel the others trying to decide what to say or do. I have been scowling at my own hands, but now look up and smile a bright, false smile.

“I think we should probably fetch some water for ourselves as well. Now who volunteers to go back and fetch our supplies?” I ask teasingly and hear an audible groan from Corwin.

In the end we all end up heading back. Reginald, the prisoner and I lead the horses to the water while Tyrus and Corwin fetch the supplies to refresh our water stores, trailing behind us. We return to the stream, and the prisoner stands off to the side waiting, with Reginald keeping an untrusting eye on him. Tyrus and Corwin come suddenly into view and Corwin is covered from the chest down in mud. Reginald briefly looks Corwin over with a pursed mouth.

“You sir, look a right mess.” Reginald states stuffily and Corwin snarls at him. “And I'm not even going to ask what happened.” Reginald sniffs. I'm beginning to suspect he is teasing Corwin. Tyrus is laughing, trying to explain what had happened through gasping breaths.

“..trying to show off. Carrying too many skins and containers.. tried to hurry me up. Rushing me along, didn't see...” Tyrus' laughter chokes him into silence momentarily. “..log until too late..” more laughter “.. puddle on other side with this frog sitting there, just staring at him as he fell..” Even more laughter. “Just.. staring.” A few gasps. “..face-to-face with this frog. And it just blinks while Corwin curses and splutters..” Tyrus wipes tears from his eyes, guffawing. “It didn't even move!” He howls. Reginald steps forward with an amused look, taking a muddy water-skin from Corwin with two fingers.

“Well they do say you can judge a man by the company he keeps. And you sir, look as though you've been keeping company with a pig.” Reginald remarks stifling his smile and causing another outburst of laughter from Tyrus, who doubles over, holding his sides. Corwin grumbles something under his breath that sounds very much like a curse word and “shut up”, which only makes Tyrus laugh all the harder. Meanwhile, Corwin takes himself and the dirty water containers to the stream. The horses are still walking along the stream bed drinking and cooling themselves, but Corwin strides past them and continues up the stream for a short distance, suddenly turning and walking out directly into the shallow water. We shout a warning to him, but he promptly plops himself down with a great splash, which earns worried exclamations and laughter from what remains of our small group, especially when Corwin abruptly pops back up again from the water yelping about it being cold. Muddy water runs off him from the waist down, and one could almost see the color of his clothing again. The horses snort and move out of the path of the disturbed and muddy current Corwin has stirred up. With much blustering and complaint, Corwin throws himself back into the water, quickly scooping it onto his clothes to rinse the most of the mud free before moving into clear water and refilling the skins and containers. He scrambles free of the water, puffing.

“Not one of my best ideas, I must admit. But at least the mud is nearly gone. Corwin announces, looking down at himself and brushing at left-over mud. Reginald gives a snort and shakes his head, still fighting a grin. Tyrus is still chuckling as he fills the other containers, his head bent to his task. Corwin's eyes suddenly light up, and he walks casually towards Tyrus, who glances up too late, shock registering in his eyes just as Corwin casually uses a foot to push Tyrus into the stream. Corwin roars with laughter as Tyrus falls sideways into the stream, attempting to catch himself, and then quickly bounces back out of the water, spluttering. Tyrus launches himself towards Corwin, threatening him with a similar disaster. They wrestle, laughing, splashing, sputtering and coughing. Reginald salvages the water containers, shaking his head, and begins to fill the remaining empty ones as he complains about childish behavior. Corwin and Tyrus turn on him in an instant and he becomes the next prey. Reginald, catching sight of them advancing on him, begins shaking his head in earnest.

“Oh no you don't-oh no, no... NO!” Reginald roars, backing away from them slowly, keeping his eyes on the two. As his feet leave the bank and enter the stream, his heel catches on a rock and he falls backwards on his hindquarters. Corwin and Tyrus roar with laughter in tandem and Reginald flings himself up out of the cold water, squealing like a child, making the two men double over. Reginald manages to look ashamed, outraged and haughty all at the same time as he rubs his rear.

“I will be even with you two for this. I warn you now!” Reginald exclaims dramatically. Tyrus' and Corwin's laughter renews and they start teasing him mercilessly.

“Oh, is that so Reginald..” I hear Corwin say.

“Better find a change of pants first..” Retorts Tyrus. The teasing, splashing and laughter goes on in the background, but my attention is on the prisoner as his gaze suddenly fixes upstream. His head slightly c***s, looking all the world like a dog who is listening to something strange. His brow furrows.

“Hush!” I admonish the others and the prisoner's nostrils flare suddenly. He takes a step back. “What..?” I begin.

“We should leave.. NOW!” He interrupts sharply. Lupus abruptly bursts from the stream, followed by the other horses, eyes wide, nostrils flaring.

“Lupus, Lupus, calm.” I whisper frantically. He races past me anyway, but returns only to skitter back again. I can tell he is desperate to flee, but warring with his training. Tyrus, Corwin and Reginald are watching with fear from the water's edge. The prisoner grasps my shoulders and thrusts me in the direction of the horses.

“Go now! All of you-run!” The prisoner yells. Lupus is just ahead of me and I jump towards him, using a fallen tree to toss myself onto his back. Lupus and I are accustomed to riding bareback without difficulty, part of my father's ridiculous extensive training, which I wryly note is suddenly paying off. I turn to see the other men frantically scrambling up the bank and running in my direction. The prisoner has gone back for them and is herding them in my direction. He gives a shout I cannot understand and Lupus bolts from the trees, chased quickly by the other horses, and, trailing much further behind, the other men. The fear of the unknown courses through my veins and mind as the men are falling out of my sight. I try to keep my head low as Lupus clears the trees. I call him to a halt, but he doesn't respond, he's too spooked and out of my control now. This is not normal for him, so I lean my weight to the right, and as I had hoped, Lupus' training kicks in and he adjusts, turning to make sure I don't fall. His body is responding automatically to a lifetime of reinforcement and riding with me. I force Lupus to circle back using this method, searching for the men, but Lupus refuses to go all the way back, only allowing me to circle him back towards them twice, then three times before there's a loud crashing noise suddenly racing its way towards us. Lupus nervously races away from it, but I again make him turn, and then the men dash forward from the trees. Lupus rears, but my body is just as conditioned as his to respond to his movements, so I clench my thighs, tossing my arms about his neck, digging my fingers into his coarse hair, leaning forward against his body to recover my balance and he promptly drops back to the ground.

“Quick-saddles and supplies. And get ready to go!” Reginald calls.

“What is going on? What is it?” I cry in response, slipping from Lupus, who stands next to me, muscles twitching. The other horses stand in a huddle near our things.

“No time, just go!” I hear the prisoner shout. I race towards the corpse's sled and my saddle, calling Lupus as I do. I get the saddle on him and begin attaching the sled when a hand drops onto mine.

“What are you doing?” Tyrus yells. “We must go!”

“Not without the corpse.” I reply.

“You're infuriating!” The prisoner gripes at me from the back of his horse, and leaps down to help Tyrus attach the other side of the sled to Lupus. I am unexpectedly thrown onto Lupus' back.

“Many pardons, Lady.” Growls Corwin and suddenly everyone is sprinting forward on their horses. I throw one last look back over my shoulder, but can see nothing before Lupus has carried me too far away.