RainDrop

CHAPTER 3

"Arnith!" a soft voice cried out.

She looked forward to the direction she heard the voice and saw a young woman in the distance over a wooden bridge. Her dark brown hair with the shades of an oak tree bark stood out.

"Cairbes?" The Queen questioned.

The Queen moved in a bit closer and saw Ecthelben holding a little boy, around six years old, bruised as a sign of struggle next to the female.

"Cairbes!" the Queen cried out, and they both ran to each other and embraced each other tightly with teary eyes.

"I'm so glad you're both safe, sister!" she said worryingly.

"I'm glad to Cairbes!" the Queen sobbed.

She pulled Arnith aside, and Ecthelben walked over to greet her, placing his forehead against hers. The little boy leaned forward and latched himself around her neck. They looked her deep in her eyes with sorrow with her hand on the baby, locking on her fingers.

"I'm sorry about Ecandir. She said.

"He died with honor." Ecthelben finished.

The little boy then kissed the Queen on her cheek then Ecthelben removed his forehead from hers. The Queen's eyes filled with tears and stared at the boat floating in the water.

"Are there any survivors besides us?" she asked.

"Ecthelben and I managed to save a small number that was left; they are injured but not fatal," Cairbes replied.

"What's the number?" The Queen insisted

"About 30 that's on board now, 50 should already be to the said location, so 85 including us."

"85?" The Queen's voice broke. "Out of thousands of us, only 85 were able to make it out?" she strained in disbelief.

Caribes heart exploded, and her face flushed red, holding back tears. "We tried, sister; we don't know if anymore made it from here and is somewhere." She choked.

"I know, we can only move forward and pray they find us." The Queen replied, moving towards the boat.

The sky turned grey, and the rain began to pour like tiny droplets of diamonds as the little Qodinian boy and Commander stood there with extended hands to the Queen ahead of them. Cairbes gracefully took the baby from the Queen's arms, carefully placed her in a basket, and closed it as everyone boarded the boat. Ecthelben looked around cautiously as he boarded the ship last and began to steer out to safety. In the distance, there is a wounded female in the bushes, watching the movements of the remaining family vigilantly grunting in pain.

In a dark, muddy, swampy area, a conversation echoes furiously in the distance. The swamp water looks like mercury, filled with moss, ferns, and brittle trees shaped like twisted bodies with light blue fireflies shining between them.

"Did she get away? How could you let this happen? Where are the rest of my army?" a voice angrily screamed.

"The platoon are all dead, sire." A soft voice answered.

"I need her, and time is running against me!" the voice continued anxiously.

"Sire, continue to be patient; Cyan is tracing their steps as we speak." The soft voice reassured.

Further in the swamp, a rigged cave and a shadowy figure are kneeling outside the cave dressed in a ripped black cloak. The voice appeared to calm down. The moon lit up the night sky, making the stars appear like diamonds as the night clouds lazily drifted away from the moon.

"Where is she now?"

"She's, completing her duties, sire."

"Very well then, you're dismissed."

The figure bowed then walked away, standing on the edge of a cliff in front of the mixed clans dressed in black, grey, and silver battle-ready attire, sharpening and cleaning their tools. The moon shined on the figure's face revealing its sharp yellow eyes and sly smirk as it looked down at the working army.

The wind is blowing the sails calmly, the water glowed with every movement of the boat, and the fishes swam with them. Ecthelben steers, watching his surroundings vigilantly as Cairbes continues to treat the wounded below as Arnith helps. The smell of blood and groaning sounds replayed in their heads repeatedly.

"My Queen," An elderly Qodin strained to reach out desperately, "What's going to happen to us now?" she finished.

Arnith walked calmly towards her and sat next to her holding her hands.

"We are going to be alright." She paused and gazed around the cabin with piercing eyes locked on her.

Caribes walked to her side and held her hand.

"My sister and I can assure you that everything will be okay; we are heading to a land of new." She said

strongly.

A scoff echoed across the cabin. An elderly male Qodin sits up, supporting his left broken arm with his right. His messy dark hair peeks through the bandages that are dropping to his eye. His sharp eyes shot at Cairbes as he mimics her statement disrespectfully.

"We're heading to a land of new." He mocked, "What if those stinking Waurotaes followed us? They bring nothing but death and destruction! Look at what they did to us, our home, and our King!" He pointed out passionately, "They just about wiped us from existence! Look at everyone, I'd be surprised if we all make it out alive if we haven't eaten each-"

A loud thump vibrated the cabin floor interrupting him.

"Don't you dare say another word!" Caribes shouted as her face flushed red and she clinched her fits; Arnith quickly locked her hands around hers and leaned back.

"The King sacrificed himself for everyone! He fought by his people! My brother died so you and many could live! Everyone here is lucky and should be grateful to see and hope for tomorrow!"

She continued with disgust stepping closer to the miserable Qodin.

"If it was up to me, I would throw your ungrateful, disrespectful body overboard to exchange for every young Qodin that didn't get to live to see tomorrow! She finished with her voice cracking.

A soft somber surrounded the cabin.

"Enough." Arnith gently said, placing her hand on her shoulder.

"But he-"

"Enough, Caribes," Arnith said, shaking her head, "I understand you've lost brothers, sisters, wives, children, and husbands. There's nothing that could fill that void of losing a loved one but time. My husband, your King, left this world protecting what matters the most to him, your survival and family. Yes, we lost a huge number of us, but let us not forget that we have the power to move forward in the hope for tomorrow. As we set out to make anew and nurse you all back to health, we can grow and love again, and one day, the Waurotaesian Empire will fall, but for now, we hide and grow our numbers. We can live to fight tomorrow, stronger and wiser." She finished eloquently.

Sniffling sounds and crying surrounded the cabin. The old Qodin woman dropped to her knees, bowing.

"My Queen! My Queen!" she stressed.

"My apologies." The old man mumbled as his head dropped in humiliation.

Arnith nodded as she turned to head out of the cabin.

"Cairbes, change his bandages." She said as she reached to open the entrance door.

"Will do, sister." Cairbes smiled grimly at the old man as Arnith exited.

Closing the door behind her, her knees gave up instantly. She pounded on her chest a few times as the tears rolled down her cheeks.

"Ecleeceeous, my love." She whispered as she struggled to climb the mini stairway to the top of the boat, wiping the tears of her pain. She stood midway, staring ahead at Duvendir, holding Laegwen ever so gently.

"I won't let anyone hurt you." He whispered, looking into Laegwen eyes.

Arnith moved closer and stretched her arms towards them, and embraced them.

"Are we heading North, brother?" she asked, looking up at Ecthelben as he steered. Under his eyes were dark and puffy.

He looked down at Arnith then at his son, fighting to open his eyes. "Yes, Ecandir said it would be safe for us all to start anew."

Arnith rubs Duvendir's head then walks towards Ecthelben on deck. She could see he was fatigued.

"Here," she said, touching the boat wheel. "Loqufi," she finished. The wheel gave off a green hue and started to steer itself. "Now, you can rest for a bit."

Ecthelben legs gave up on him as he stooped down, he stared at Arnith for a bit, and his eyes immediately shut down after a few blinks. A tear trickled down his left cheek that instantaneously punctured her heart. Footsteps echoed as Cairbes came on the deck looking at Ecthelben worryingly.

"He feels just as much as you; he lost his best friend. Did you know Ecandir was the one who encouraged Ecthelben to marry me?"

Arnith looked at Cairbes with a smile. "Yes, I remember that day like it was yesterday. You were so happy; you cried for hours." She chuckled.

"Yes, my heart burst with joy every time I see him; it still does. He wasn't Royal, but he has a good heart, much like Ecandir. He cherishes family; he loves his son just how Ecandir loves Laegwen. He'll do it all over again if he has to."

Arnith held Cairbes hand and walked her to the front of the boat. They both stopped and stared at Duvendir, rocking back and forth as he looked restlessly towards the night sky, counting and naming each star. Cairbes heart sunk to the floor as her eyes began to gloss up with mixed emotions and rage.

"They tied us up like animals and threw him in a ditch with dead Qodins and tried to r**e me while escaping." Cairbes strained,

"A young Qodin shouldn't have to see that. He's restless and traumatized now." She continued, placing her hand on her chest-thumping on her aching heart as the tears rolled down.

Arnith's grip tightens as she looks at him.

"My magic is at its weakest right now, so I can't remove those painful memories, but I can blur them out at least so

he can rest." She suggested.

Caribe's eyes continued to lock on her son. "Please, that'll help." She pleaded.

Duvendir eyes fixed on the women, then shifted his gaze to the baby, who's now fidgeting beside him in a blanket. They both moved closer, sitting on the side of them. Arnith stretched her arms towards Duvendir, and he immediately crawled into them. Cairbes swaddled Laegwen with the blanket and began rocking back and forth, humming a beautiful tone that felt so calming and sweet.

"…

and the little Qodin grew

As a

little Qodin should

Her

brave and precious spirit

Had

just…

Begun...

To

Bloom… "

Arnith started to harmonize with her. She stroked Duvendir face gently as a gold hue appeared with every stroke. It was a sweet melody, and the young Qodins eyes became heavy as if a sandbag was placed on their eyelids. They drifted off soundly as the sisters continued to gaze in the distance, joining their voices together.