The spirit of Èowyn

Chapter 5

Lucien

I had never tumbled out of bed so fast in my entire existence. I tore open the flap to the tent and discovered that the day had turned to dusk. "What the hell did you dream, Luci? I've never ever seen you so.. so upset is putting it mildly." Zane asked as he looked at me wide-eyed as if I had grown a third eye. I looked around, possibly a little hysterical as I ran my hands through my now matted hair. “She was attacked in her room by a large, possibly alpha werewolf. She knocked him out and ran. I think she's on her way here. She must be on her way here. Zane she's hurt. He beat her pretty badly. She is also malnourished, tortured in the vilest ways since before. She won't last long on her own. We have to find her.” I exclaimed desperately. I ran my hand over my mouth when I felt the bile rise in the back of my throat from the mere panic of knowing she was out there alone somewhere hurt, and possibly hunted. I started pacing back and forth. To wrapped up in my own tormented thoughts, to notice when Zane stepped forward and grabbed my shoulders firmly. “Enough! You are the most collected, efficient, level-headed vampire I know. So stop acting like a fu*king schoolgirl about to have a nervous breakdown and get your sh*t together for fu*k sake!” I hissed at him for the insult. “That’s right! Be mad, be furious. Take a swing at me if you must, but then you focus all that fu*king anger on finding your woman. Panic won`t get you sh*t, but iron will, madden focus will. So find it and use it.” Zane exclaimed with a confidence and aura that spoke volumes of the warrior prince he was. Zane may be a brutal beast with bad language and manners that would make most people blush at best, faint at worst. But the gods knew he was a great mate to Lily and an incredibly loyal friend to have at your back. I took a deep breath and regained my mental balance as I smoothed out my now wrinkled clothes. "You're right, old friend. Let's go find her.” Zane smiled in response and patted me on the shoulder.

………

Dusk turned to night as we scouted, waited for her to pass. The hours felt endless as I moved silently through the forest. I ran into the occasional animal in the dark that quickly disappeared into the trees as they sensed the predator in me. I was hungry. I hadn't feed since we left Norway. But my hunger was only secondary to finding my angel. Hunting prey to satisfy my hunger would have to wait.

Damien and Zane had spread out far enough away not to be spotted and accidentally startle her. But close enough to feel her presence with their enhanced Lycan senses. Our kind doctor, Rick, was in the tent, ready to receive her with medical expertise.

While I stood hidden in the shadows, at the location where I saw her come running in my dream. I took deep breaths hoping to catch her scent in the wind. But I didn't know her scent and with my weakened senses I was worried I would miss her. The earpiece crackled, causing me to stretch from my position leaning against the tree. "Damien, to dead guy. Are you still alive? No pun intended.” I rolled my eyes at his serious, but as always, sarcastic tone. "Seen or heard anything?" I did not dignify him with an answer. I was far too tense to feel playful. “Nothing here.” Zane's deep voice hummed as Damien agreed. "It's almost sunrise, she should pass soon. If not, we'll head out and search while you stay in the same position, Lucien." What he said made sense, but waiting was driving me insane. “I`ll stay put. Just keep me updated.”

I did my best to find my composure so I wouldn't make a fool out of myself when she came running. I didn't want to scare her either. I had seen her in my dreams so clearly that a part of me felt like I knew her. But I had to remember that she hadn't seen me. She didn't know me and the last thing I wanted was for her to see me as a threat. "I hear movement, quick ones. Rapid breaths. Moving north in your direction." Damien whispered as he kept watch at the southernmost position. A rush of adrenaline pumped through my blood at his words. I straightened my back where I stood leaning against a tree as I waited with anticipation.

"She stopped. I hear her heavy breathing. She whimpers. I think she's in pain. Rick, be ready." Zane whispered in his end and my anxiety spiked. “I´m ready.” Ricks collected, calm voice broke through my thoughts, assembling my worried feelings somewhat. When I didn't think my nerves could take any more waiting and I was ready to throw myself out of my hiding place and run towards her, that's when I heard it. Branches that were snapped by heavy feet. Obviously, too tired to be able to pedal silently. Her breathing sounded laboured and tired even at this far distance. My whole body vibrated with the tension of standing still and waiting for her to come closer. As she stepped out of the forest and onto the riverbank, the fresh breeze caught her hair and carried with it the most intoxicating smell I had ever smelled. Honey and vanilla were mixed seductively with cherries. My fangs began to ache and, for the first time in 400 years, my heart began to beat. Mate.

My whole body vibrated when I saw her coming stumbling towards me. I stepped out from the trees just as she fell to her knees in her exhaustion. I rushed forward and knelt down in front of her. Her gaze snapped up. Her eyes widened as I, for the first time, saw her deep blue eyes that resembled a stormy sea. My Èowyn. "Don't be afraid. I'm here to help you." I tried to reassure her. Her eyes looked at me in panic before they rolled back. I just managed to catch her before she fell to the ground. Passed out in my arms, she felt light as a feather. Goddess, How I wish I could have spared her from everything she's been through. To see her like this. I'd rather cut my own heart out with a spoon than let her go through something like that again.

As fast as I could without risking causing her more pain, I ran towards the campsite where Rick was waiting. He had the bed, IV and medical equipment ready as I came running. “She passed out. Her pulse is weak." I gently laid her down while Rick put the stethoscope to his ears. It felt terrible to let go of her. I wanted to wrap her up in my arms and never let go. I could hardly believe it. My heart was beating. This beautiful, yet broken, woman was my mate. But I was her second chance. Whatever she had been through, I knew it was beyond my wildest imaginations. Would she dare to trust me? Let me heal her bruised heart? If it were to take the rest of my life, I would never give up.

Zane and Damien came running out of the woods as Rick was busy connecting her to the IV. “Fu*king hell, is this her?” Zane said flustered as he stopped, looking down at her. I hissed at him. "Back the f*k up, Z." Damien exclaimed harshly, but Zane just crossed his arms and gave me a smug look. "Now you know how it feels. The anger when another man gets too close to your mate. Unnerving, isn't it? Because she's your true mate, right?" Zane said with a raised eyebrow, looking expectantly at me. I was pissed that I had become so uncivilized, but I couldn't seem to control myself. “She is. Now back the fu*k up.” I growled at my oldest friend. His smile widened. “Well, look at that. The fair maiden made the English gentleman curse.” Her fragile health mixed with my newfound possessiveness became too much. I hissed and swiped my claws at him. Damien just managed to grab Zane and pull him back before I made contact with his chest. Damien and Zane hurled insults at each other but I shifted my focus back to the passed-out angel on the stretcher.

"I don't know what this young lady has been through, but it has taken its toll. Her lungs are raspy, her heart is beating irregularly.

She is malnourished and my guess is she is probably hypothermic. We need to get her out of here as soon as possible.” Rick exclaimed as he fetched blankets to wrap her in. I yanked them away from him before tucking her chilled body carefully into the warm blankets myself. I couldn't help but notice that she was wearing the same white dress I had seen in the dream. Did that mean that everything else in the dream had been true too? Probably. "The helicopter is on its way. Come on, Z. Let's pack up the tent." Damien exclaimed. While the brothers packed up our gear and the doctor took blood samples and checked her readings on a small portable screen, I knelt next to her and whispered words of encouragement while holding her small, cold, hand in mine. The sounds of rotating helicopter blades were heard just as the first rays of sunlight touched the mountain peaks above us.