Unknown L (Book 1)

~~ The Keeper ~~

She dredged up whatever strength she still possessed and forced her mind to work. She forced her body to cooperate with what she wanted and slowly she began to figure things out. Her memories were the first to recover and she remembered everything that had happened right up to the event that had sent her into her glowing slumber.

Now that her brain was working, she knew she was still alive. She had no idea how or why but she was alive and from what she could tell, she was unharmed. She was able to move her head now to see what was happening around her.

She was being carried on a hammock that was spread between two Ogres, they were familiar but their names eluded her for the moment. They weren't moving right now and she lifted her head to look around. She saw the same people that had been there before; this time she knew their names and exactly who they were to her.

Five concerned faces were gazing back at L. Bryce was the closest and he was holding one of her hands, bandages were just visible under the collar of his shirt and one around his head- his hat was missing. He seemed fine otherwise and the smile he gave L when she looked at him made her heart stutter. Mr and Mrs Worcester were there, they looked unscathed but the worry was obvious. They were talking continuously and L only just caught their fussing questions.

She smacked her dry lips together and her throat felt like sandpaper. The fourth face watching her, held a hand up with a bottle in it. L took the drink from Emilia and sipped down the liquid, thankfully it was just water. Emilia looked a little worse for wear. She had a sling holding up her arm and cuts on her face, as well as indications there were more on her body.

L drank down every last drop and passed the bottle back, burping quietly which caused Illiana to giggle.

"L? Can you hear me?" Bryce spoke extra slowly, cautious not to overwhelm her.

L nodded, "... I... can," the words were like razor blades grating her throat. But that didn't seem to matter to any of them, they looked overjoyed that she could understand.

"We thought we'd lost you. You've been unconscious for days. It's been truly agonising for all of us, and Robbie-" Bryce cut himself off abruptly and turned to the Worcesters.

That was when L realised someone very important wasn't there. She almost feared the worst, but the Worcesters wouldn't be crowding around her to make sure she was okay if that were the case. If Robbie really was alright, then L knew the reason before anyone told her. She knew why Robbie wasn't waiting around for her to wake up.

He had burned her, he had meant to kill her on L's own insistence, to kill Frallica in the process. L didn't blame him for a second and clearly, he hadn't succeeded. But he couldn't have known how she was and his parents rushed off a moment later, presumably to tell him. L wondered if he would come- she wouldn't have if the roles were reversed.

She tried to sit up but Bryce held her down before she could attempt to move a muscle.

"Edra told us to keep you laid down if you woke up before she returned... even if you resisted," he added after L gave him a challenging look.

She didn't have the energy to fight Bryce and rested back against the hammock. It was nice to know Edra had also survived, although L never really doubted that would be the case for her. She tried not to think of those who hadn't made it and distracted herself with a more detailed look around.

There was a small procession of creatures around them, it looked more like a contingent of bodyguards to L but maybe she was just being suspicious. They had stopped in a forest clearing but it was different to the one the last base had been in. It looked older, much older and the plants nearby were unrecognisable to L. The trees in this place were full of leaves and flowers and it was the height of winter but clearly the Nature Sprites were celebrating.