Twice Awakened

Chapter 27

After lunch Vlad took me to the armory stall looking for gloves. He found a pair that matched my armor that fit just right. Not to snug but not loose. He nodded at the man and we went to the clothing stall and looked for more gloves. We found a fluffy pair of deep red that matched most of the clothes I had brought. Once the gloves were out of the way we took to strolling around again.

We walked by the river that ran on one side of the base a wall had started being built. We were beginning to fort up. Pondering for a minute I turned to Vlad.

“We’re missing something for the base.” I said with my hand on my chin in thought.

“What’s that?” he said puzzled

“We need a greenhouse. We need to be able to produce fruits and vegetables through the winter to keep everyone fed.” He thought for a moment and nodded in agreement.

As we walked along I had remember one of the spells I had learned from Lillian. Looking at the water. I spoke “Watata Feom tiny horses”

A child’s giggles approaching us from behind as tiny horses of water galloped out of the river and all around us. Gracie, my new found fan, had giggled seeing them trying to catch one.

“Gracie, what animal do you really love?” I squatted down to ask her.

“Dwagoon.” I smiled and once again.

“Watata Feom tiny dragon.” with a whoosh the little dragon appeared flying and dancing around Gracie. Her giggles bringing light to my heart. Realizing I was ready but at the time I was still unsure of Vlad. Gracie had given a slight shiver, she had no gloves and no coat. “Gracie do you have gloves or a coat?” Her little head shook as she grabbed her arms from the cold wind. Scooping her up I tucked her into my coat Vlad helping me zip it a bit to help her stay warm. My coat hung down to my knees so I know it would cause a pocket against my dress and keep her warm.

Without anymore hesitation I had walked off Vlad realizing I was on the move with the child. He stayed close to my side just in case Gracie became to heavy. We reached the clothing stall and I let her try on a coat and gloves. They fit her a little big but it was perfect for her growth. I found her a hat that fit her head and covered her ears. Vlad was staring at every little interaction I had with her.

“Let’s get you to your mom.” I smiled as the little girls face fell into sadness. “Gracie.”I picked her chin up gently “what is wrong?” she tugged my dress as she walked, looking at Vlad with concern. We walked to the infirmary and Gracie pointed. Picking up Gracie we had walked in. A tent around a bed with “QUARANTINED” place on it. The woman from earlier looked pale and as if she were fighting for her life.

“We have been trying to cure her,” a little witch had hobbled over. “but it seems the more we try to cure her the worse she gets.” She frowned heavily. Looking down at Gracie my heart began to break.

“Does this little one have any other family?” A shake of the woman’s head confirmed my fear. I turned to Vlad with my heart breaking.

“She will stay with us. We will take full responsibility of her until her mother is healed. ” Vlad said looking at the woman then back to me and Gracie. “If anything befalls her, we will take full responsibility of Gracie.” The elderly woman wrote in her charts and nodded. I picked Gracie up into my arms as she had little tears stream her face. Vlad wiping away her tears.

We took her back to our hut as the light had faded into darkness. I sat by the fire in our rocking chair as she curled up in my lap. Vlad had gotten up quietly and disappeared out the door. Confusing me but I continued rocking as Gracie’s eyes became heavier with sleep.

The door gently opened twenty minutes or so later. Gracie was covered up on my lap fast asleep. Her little cherub face peaceful. Alex had come through with clothes for her, Matty, with blankets, Vlad and Curtis carrying a small bed just her size. Matty winked at me as he saw the little one in my arms. Sitting the blankets on the table he reached for her. I gently placed her in his arms as he sat and rocked with her. Derek shortly coming in with a mattress. We had plenty of room in our room for her new bedshifting everything a bit. Derek had placed a wall up the hammering never stiring her. We made her bed up and even hung a few rods up across the top of her room for her clothes. I had taken the energy out of my necklace, placed it in a jewel I had been given by granny to store energy. I stuffed the jewel in the little teddy bears zipper and casted “Gleo Ligito” the bear in my hands gently glowing.

Going back to Matty he lifted her slightly placing her in my arms. I gently laid her in bed as Vlad leaned against the doorway. Laying her new teddy beside her and tucking them both in. I kissed her head gently. She shifted wrapping the teddy bear and sighing in a deep sleep. I spun to see Vlad with that look again. We both walked out to thank everyone. Explaining the situation. Matty grabbing his chest as if it were shattering. Everyone said their goodnight and headed down the hill to their huts. I grabbed a few books off the shelf reading about illnesses with her symptoms.

Hours of reading and Vlad had wrapped my waist as we sat in bed with books scattered around me and strategic plans around him. He bumped one of the books to show wolfsbane, I pulled it towards me.

“Vlad, she’s been poisoned. “ I turned slightly towards him. He sat up and read the symptoms. “it’s a combination poison. That's why nothing is working. They are treating one but not the other.” I showed the two deadly herbs to him. Pulling his pants and boots on he took off out the door. Keeping the two books to there pages I placed all the others back on the shelf. Sitting in the doorway watching Gracie sleep.

Hearing the door swing open Granny and Vlad came in out of breath. “We need to ask a favor of you?”

“Anything Granny what do you need?”

“Your blood.” I nod pulling out a knife Vlad flinched as he saw my slice my hand and drops of silver, not red droplets, into the flask.

“Goddess blood.” she stated. “When you awakened the second time your body had transformed of immortal things.” she nodded and took back off out the door. I sat there stunned for a minute and gently murmur. “Hialt” my hand closing the wound as if nothing had happened. I sat for what seemed like hours. Vlad had calmly came through the door.

“She’s going to make it. You found the answer just in time.” He smiled. “It will be a few days before she can come out of the hospital but Gracie isn’t losing her mom thanks to you.” He grabbed me and twirled kissing me gently. “One day, when you are ready, you will make a beautiful mother to our children.” Tears streamed my face, joy blossoming and pushing out the thoughts of earlier. “ I love you my little flower.”

“I love you too my love.”