(A/N: possible TW. Hints at abuse, PTSD and strong language in this chapter).
Niki was down at the creak, collecting water with Marian when she heard it. How the wind settled and the birds stopped their singing.
They were being watched again. She could feel it. A whole week had passed since the beast took Allan and not much had prevailed.
Little John had suggested the group barter for information, perhaps some rich Lords would know of a place but it was more likely to be one of poverty to know any information on the beast seeing as gossip tended to travel faster and further in the working class.
Then Marian had suggested they attend the Fair, a big gathering the Lords and King throws every summer to flaunt their wealth. She had said people from all over gather there, and some may even know of the beasts' whereabouts - should the rumours be believed.
Niki glanced to the other side of the creek where Marian was stood, a rotting wooden bucket in her arms, dripping fresh cold water to the dusty ground. Niki cleared her throat and casually dropped her hand to her ankle, crouching down to carefully remove the blade from her boot.
Marian caught her eye and gave the slightest nod of understanding, "Will and Maggie should be on their way now." She chirped, straightening her back and dropping her hand to the sword at her belt. Niki knew this was a lie, but perhaps it would scare them off. Whoever they were.
Niki grasped her blade tight, the metal warm from the skin of her ankle and now burning in her hand. She too straightened, hiding the weapon in the fabric of her skirts. "Perhaps we should meet them halfway?" She asked cautiously.
Marian gave a wary smile and nodded. The camp wasn't far, but it wasn't close enough for their fellow campmates to hear them scream. This revelation disturbed Niki somewhat. She cleared her throat again, a nervous habit she'd picked up from her uncle that fiercely annoyed Maggie, especially when she was reading.
Marian waded her way through the shallow part of the water, the bottom of her dress catching the stream as she hurried. Niki caught her arm and helped her over a large log. She put the bucket on the ground and nodded to Niki as she drew her sword, turning back to back.
"Show yourself!" Marian shouted, her patience already running thin from the fruitless search for Allen.
A rustling sound from the sloped ground to Nikis left, the sound of hurried footsteps in the leaves, then quiet. A moment later Much's face came into view. Niki and Marian sighed with relief.
"What in all nine levels of hell are you playing at, Kid!?" Niki snapped, loosening her grip on her blade, she had held it so tight, her hand was marred with red welts.
"Much, what have we said about sneaking around the woods alone? Especially now." Marian chided softly. She never could raise her voice at the young boy.
"I- I'm sorry Marian, but I wasn't creeping around honest! I was walking to camp when I heard you shout." He lifted his sword in gesture. It was new, they had the village blacksmith make him one much to John's disappointment; 'he's too young for a sword' he had muttered to Will.
Marian regarded him, her face hardening into a look of. . . Fear? Niki couldn't be sure. Marian nodded all the same and gestured to him to stay close anyways as they made the long track back to camp.
When they arrived, they were greeted by Thalia, who kindly took the heavy water bucket from Marian and placed it by the fire pit where- Much to Niki's surprise- Kalen was sat.
He had only just recovered from his injury. Though he still had a sore head, he wasn’t deathly pale anymore. He did, however, struggle to sleep.
It had gotten so bad in fact, that Maggie had to take him aside and give him some sleeping drought Marian had cooked up for him. Charlie also gave him an earful about how important sleep was to the human body and mind, then had hugged him and ordered him to bed.
Niki, thought it was rich coming from Charlie of all people, to lecture about sleep. However, she had decided to stay out of this particular issue for now.
"You’re not dead then." She said, taking a seat beside Kalen.
He looked at her, she had expected to see a smirk on his face or a glimmer of humour at least.
There was nothing.
"Nope."
". . . We were watched again. At the creak, I mean. Someone was there." She pushed.
"Yeah Marian told me, are you okay?" Thalia was the one to ask, ever caring, ever-loving.
"Fine, just a little shook up." Niki nodded, fidgeting slightly with her long dress sleeve. This is ridiculous. She thought. Nobody makes me nervous. Especially not Kalen of all people.
She turned to meet his eyes again, but he was elsewhere. Lost in thought. Thalia coughed, catching her eye instead. She shook her head, a warning.
Niki rolled her eyes. She wanted nothing more than to take Kalen by the shoulders and shake the truth from him. Ask him what the "bad thing" was that he had done. What had he been trying to tell her in his hazy feverish state?
Thalia rose from the fire and gestured for Nikita to follow her. Obediently, she did. They walked in silence out of the camp -not too far, but far enough from any prying eyes and eavesdropping.
"What is it?" Niki asked, though she knew completely what the subject of their little excursion was.
Thalia was still for a moment, thinking of the best way to say something difficult. Her hands twisted together, wringing her fingers in a nervous gesture. "So. . . I know Kal is acting funny. –Well not funny, that's kind of the problem. He's not really himself. And I know you care very much about his wellbeing but Kal could do with some space and. . . time." She gnawed on the inside of her cheek. Lia never liked confrontation– if that's what this was.
"I'm well aware he's not himself, Thalia. But that really isn't you're decision to make." Niki snapped, she rarely spoke to Lia so bluntly, but this wasn't something time could fix. Kalen needed help. Proper help.
Thalia blanched at her tone, her eyes widened, then blinked. "Look. I don't mean to be rude Niki, but I have known Kal since we were children, he's basically family. I read him like a bloody clock face. He's never been this bad before, but I've seen him upset and I've seen him hurt, and every time he bounced back after time." Lia looked slightly uncomfortable, like she didn't quite want to say the words, but found herself saying them nonetheless.
"It's been time, Lia! It's been weeks. What is it that you're not telling me? Why are you keeping us in the dark about this? Because I know you know what happened. He tells you everything and don't stand there and tell me you know him better because that's bollocks and you know it." Niki breathed, trying to calm herself. First Maggie, now Thalia, why was everyone clashing. Before, they'd all agree on almost everything together. Why was it all unravelling like thread?
Thalia met her eyes to eyes, finally. "I made a promise. It's not my place to tell you – any of you – what happened. You understand that though, right?" Lia's voice was harder now, less patient. "I'm sorry you're finding it difficult Niki, but you're not the only one of us with problems. –And I don't say that to be cruel. It's just, well. . . You take everything in stride. I mean, as far as I'm aware, you bounced back pretty quickly from the Viking camp."
"What the bloody hell is that meant to mean, Thalia!? What? I didn't completely crumple like Charlie, so I must be fine! Or you!? Hm? How have you been dealing, Lia? How has not talking to anyone worked for you!?"
Thalias face dropped. All worry left and twisted into defensive anger. A humourless smile played on her lips. It was not pretty. "Right. I get it. Because I should be used to it? –Being hurt by others, I mean. Treated like shit." She nodded to herself.
Niki began to regret what she had said almost as soon as she'd said it. "Lia, I didn’t mean–"
"No." She shook her head, taking a step backwards, further from Niki. "Talk to Charlie if you must. Ask her what's wrong. But believe it or not, she and Kal are quite similar in the fact that they don't like to talk about it."
Thalia turned to head back to camp. "Thalia I didn't mean it." Niki pleaded, urgently. Slowly taking a step closer to her. Thalia stopped walking, only for a moment.
". . . I know." She threw over her shoulder, her voice small like a scared child. Niki hated it. Hated that she had made Thalia, the kindest of them all, feel so shit. Low blow. The voice at the back of her mind whispered. You really went for the kneecaps. Idiot. Bad friend. Bitch.
Niki did not return to camp until an hour later.
***
A/N:
Sorry! I know, I know. Updates haven't been the best. I honestly don't have an excuse this time, I just really couldn't be bothered :)
But I finally updated! And I'm writing up the first chapters of 'There's Something Wrong With Nora Newcastle' (A lesbian romance set in the 1970s England)
And 'The Children of Balthory Manor'. (A mystery/ thriller set in WW2).
Please do check them out on my page if you have the time.
- Em. x