Chapter 21: Gideon
1204 Words
Lisa was not sure about what had happened. She remembered swimming in the sea and feeling a sharp pain. She thought she had just grazed her ankle on a sharp rock. It was not until she found it difficult to breathe and she was feeling dizzy that she realised something was wrong. She had managed to cling on to a rocky outcrop before her vision started to go.
Lisa was vaguely aware of being dragged back to shore and Matt desperately calling her name. Part of her did not know what the fuss was about. She was just tired... so tired. All she needed to do was sleep. Why didn’t Matt let her do that? It was only when she woke up in her old bedroom did she realise that she might be in trouble.
"Great!" Lisa said as she got out of her four-poster bed. It was a large, round room with very high ceilings. Her old bedroom was made of stone, but it was covered in pictures of various symbols. The ceiling was the main attraction of the room. It was painted with a beautiful celestial mural. There were beautiful paintings of the sun, moon, stars, and other celestial bodies. Lisa had spent many an hour studying her cell. It was quiet, apart from the crackling of the fire. She could not believe it. She was home!
Lisa’s thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door. The heavy wooden door opened to reveal a tall, balding man walking in. He had dark brown hair that had a sprinkling of grey, a short beard, and grey eyes. Lisa rushed over and put her arms around his neck. "DAD!"
Her dad chuckled and said, "What is all this about, sunbeam?"
"I just missed you. I was worried that something might have happened to you on your business trip." Lisa said as she breathed in his scent of old leather and bergamot.
"Don’t be silly, I will always come back to you. You know that."
"When can I come on one of these business trips?"
"When you are ready."
"Dad, I am ready now! I am at the top of my class for everything!"
"I know. But trust me, don’t be in such a hurry to grow up, Lisa. "
"I just want to make you proud."
"You already do. Your training masters are most pleased with your progress, though you still need to work on your temper. Now, are you ready for your ride with Gideon? " Lisa’s dad asked.
"Gideon?" Lisa asked, confused.
"Yes, Gideon, your best friend and partner in crime. Are you sure you are alright, Sunbeam, or did the steward hit you too hard in practice? "
Lisa scoffed and said, "Like the steward could! I will go meet Gideon now. "
Lisa ran out of the room, but before she went down the stairs, she turned and said, "I love you Dad."
"And I love you, Lisa. I know your mother would have been very proud of you too, Sunbeam. " Lisa’s dad said. Lisa felt her eyes fill with tears, but she blinked away the tears. They didn’t cry; they never cried; it was a rule in their family.
"Remember, Sunbeam, life is a prison." Lisa's Dad said.
"And Death is at the door. Bye, Dad. " Lisa said as she ran down the stairs. She walked outside into the courtyard, and she looked around, savouring the sight. Her old home, on the Tibetan Plateau near the Kunlun Mountains, was completely cut off from the outside world. Her family had been at the old castle for so long, they were seen as part of the sparse local community. The environment was harsh, but it was where she was most comfortable.
"Oi, sleepy head over here!" A familiar voice said. Lisa turned to see her friend Gideon, with two Tibetan ponies. Gideon was the same age as her, with black curly hair and pale blue eyes. He was 6 feet tall, tanned and muscular. He had a hooded hunting golden eagle on his arm.
"Hi Gideon, are we ready?" Lisa said as Gideon threw her an apple.
"Yes, I brought out Henry today. He needs the exercise."
"Henry?? Don’t you mean Kelsang? " Lisa said as she mounted her pony. As expected, her bow was already tied to the saddle with some hunting arrows.
"Nah, I prefer Henry! Now, get! " Gideon said as he instructed his pony to move. With that, the two of them galloped at full speed along the alpine grass plateau. The sky was clear, and Lisa thought it would go on forever. This is her home, and this is where her heart belonged.
But something was wrong, something did not feel right, and it caused Lisa to stop. Gideon pulled up by her, his pony fidgeting. "What is wrong, Lisa?"
"I don’t know, I don’t think I am supposed to be here! Lisa said
"What? Of course, you are! " Gideon said.
"I am?"
"Yes, Lisa. You and I are going to be together forever. You should know that by now. " Gideon said with a smile.
"Yes, but where is Emily?" Lisa suddenly remembered.
"Who?"
"Emily, my sister."
"You don’t have a sister. Are you unwell, Lisa? " Gideon said, looking concerned. Lisa suddenly heard the roar of her heartbeat in her ears. She began to feel faint, making her fall to the ground. "Lisa?Lisa! " Gideon shouted as he gathered her in his arms. "Don’t leave me. You promised me we would be together forever!
"I’m... sorry," Lisa said as she shut her eyes and the scene faded.
"Please wake up; we all need you. I need you, Amoreco. " Lisa heard Matt say it softly as she began to come too. She felt the sensation of him holding her hand as her ears got used to the sounds of the hospital.
Lisa licked her lips and began to open her eyes. Every part of her ached. It was like she had run several marathons with the flu. Her eyes focused and she saw she was, as suspected, in a hospital room.
"Lisa? Thank God! up. " Matt said, relived.
"Matt?" Lisa said, her voice hoarse.
"It is OK, Amoreco, I am here and I am not going anywhere. You were bitten by a sea snake and had a bad reaction. But, you are awake now. You are going to be OK. " Matt said. Lisa got the impression he was saying this more for himself than for her.
Emily came into her eye line and signed, "We have been really worried, but Matt went crazy! Had the best doctors flown in, wouldn’t leave your bedside and shout at everyone. " Lisa tried to sign back but, everything hurt. She would have to rely on Emily’s lip-reading skills.
Lisa tried to say, "How long have I been out?"
"Shh, don’t talk, love. Where are those doctors?" Matt said with a frown as he walked out of the room.
Emily signed, "Four days in total. You were also speaking. "
"Amdo Tibetan? Yes, I was home, "Lisa said with a smile. She closed her eyes and soon fell into a dreamless sleep.
- Writer
