Icefire, part 11
Lynn carried Amber, rushing through the castle. He could feel the coldness, and though it energized him, he knew that it was rapidly weakening the girl. Her breathing was becoming uneven and she couldn’t stop shuddering.
Lynn burst into the Hall, where the fireplace was. The place was completely devoid of any signs of life, and Lynn staggered forward, feeling his arm weakening from blood loss. But he ignored it and set Amber gently down onto the floor. Taking an arrow from her quiver, he struck it against the flint on her crossbow and let the flame ignite the logs in the fireplace.
It started to spread slowly, and Lynn anxiously sat Amber up. She huddled closer to him and he wrapped his arms around her, rubbing her arms to keep the circulation up.
“You’ll be fine,” he murmured as the cold intensified. He impatiently poked the fire with the arrowhead, and a little spark went up. But the flames were succumbing to the freezing temperature that was permeating the room, and the fire died.
“No!” Lynn said, poking the logs and blowing gently on the small sparks that were dancing about. They blazed for a second before disappearing completely.
Lynn hugged Amber closer, feeling her heart slowly pounding on his chest. It was fading, and he cast about desperately in his mind for something that would bring her back. He felt the temperature lessen slightly in cold, increasing in pace, but not quickly enough to revive her fully. Lynn knew that if he could just get her heart beating more rapidly, she would be able to survive.
He stared at her face. Her eyes were closed, her cheeks were pale, and she was breathing unevenly. Lynn suddenly knew what to do. Or rather, he knew what he wanted to do, and convinced himself that it would work. And miraculously enough, it did.
Leaning down, he pressed his lips to hers. Amber’s eyes fluttered open and her heart leaped in her chest. It was enough to send the blood rushing from her heart to melt the cold that was approaching it. Her heart rate slowly increased and as the temperature warmed she began to get color back in her cheeks, which were a bright red now.
“I-I’m sorry,” Lynn stammered, suddenly realizing what he had done and going crimson in the face as well.
“For what? You saved me, and I thank you for that,” Amber said, staring shyly up at him.
They smiled at each other, both somewhat uncomfortable. Someone burst into the room at that moment, giving them a good excuse to look away from each other.
“The Fiamalans are defeated, their queen is dead!” a man shouted exultingly, then seemed to notice that Lynn was kneeling by the fireplace, Amber cradled in his arms. “Oh…terribly sorry,” he said, backing quickly out of the room.
The two laughed, and Amber sat up. “Come on,” she said, rising to her feet. “Let’s go see what’s happening.”
Lynn rose as well and they linked arms as they walked out into the fresh air and the sunlight.
They were greeted by the sound of cheers and Peter’s voice calling, “Lynn! Amber! Over here!” The two ran over to meet their friend, and they all embraced. Queen Jade stood by, watching them with a smile upon her face.
“Amber of Fiamal,” she said, and the crowd hushed. “I thank you for your service to us here. If not for your cooperation and aid, we would surely have been taken by surprise by the Fiamalans and defeated.” Amber nodded her head respectfully, and the queen turned to Lynn. “Lynn of Tjaele and Peter of Sothil, I thank you also for your service. The Gem was able to slay the evilest of beings among us, and the surviving Fiamalans are returning to their homeland.” Lynn and Peter grinned at each other and nodded. The queen continued. “I invite you all to stay here in Sothil, if it so pleases you. However, I understand if you want to return to your own homeland.”
Lynn glanced at Amber, who smiled at him. “I’ll send a dispatch to Vergal,” he said, turning back to Queen Jade. “I know he was always discussing the idea with you of setting up an outpost here in Sothil to keep an eye and communicate things back to the Tjaeleans. I figure I’ve had enough experience and ties here to qualify me for that outpost.”
Queen Jade smiled at him. “I am honored by your decision,” she said, and then looked at Amber. “And what is your wish?”
Amber bowed her head, thinking. “I, too, shall stay in Sothil,” she said. “This place feels more like a home to me than Fiamal ever was. I don’t have any family to keep me there.” She sidled closer to Lynn. “Besides, I couldn’t bear to be separated from my friends.”
Peter yelled with delight and threw his hands up in the air. That was all that the restless crowd needed, and the castle came alive with shouts and celebrating.
~~~~~
As the evening approached the place was preparing for a celebratory feast. Lynn and Amber took the opportunity to walk along the walls, overlooking the surrounding lands.
Lynn glanced behind them and saw Peter hesitantly approaching. “Come here!” he called happily, and Peter trotted forward.
“I’m so glad you’re staying!” he said to them.
“I am, too,” Lynn said, glancing at Amber. She smiled happily back at him.
Peter grinned at them. “Who would’ve thought it?” he said musingly.
“Thought what?” Amber asked.
“That you two would be so close,” he said, ducking from the swipe Lynn directed at him. “After all, you started out as enemies. I thought you would’ve killed each other.”
“Well,” Amber said, leaning against the wall’s crenellation, “I’m glad I didn’t kill Lynn when I had the chance.”
Lynn smiled. “I’m glad you didn’t either,” he said, and they all laughed.
Any passerby who looked up at the sound would have seen the three standing on the walls, all of them from different lands and with different appearances, but with the same genuinely happy smiles upon their faces and joy in their hearts as they turned and together watched the sun set, bathing everything in a pinkish-orange glow as a peaceful silence fell upon the land.
Thanks again!