At some point I gain consciousness again, my throat is parched so I weakly fumble around in the darkness, the cave barely lit by moonlight, trying to find my waterskin. Suddenly my hand comes across the face of either Killian or Sage and I freeze, I do not want to wake either up.
I slowly retract my hand off the face, but as I'm breathing out a sigh of relief, I see the shadow outline of the man sit up and it is distinctly Killian's shape.
"Leon?" He whispers, "Are you okay?"
"Water?" I croak out, my voice failing me.
"Hold still, I'll get you your waterskin."
I have no energy to reply but I see his figure silently get up and disappear into the darkness before returning back shortly.
"Thank you," I whisper, taking a seep. It's a welcome relief as the cool water soothes my dry throat.
He takes the waterskin back off me and puts it away.
"Do you need anything else?"
"No thank you."
I lie back down and slip right back into sleep.
~~~
"—Too cold, we need to warm him up," I feel movement around me but I'm too cold to open my eyes. I feel a hand on my forehead.
"His cap is soaking wet, no wonder he isn't warming up."
"He's self conscious about his hair, he'd rather die then take it off," I hear Sage say.
"And that is where he is steadily going right now, do you want him to die?" Killian's voice says sharply.
"No... but first—"
In my state I barely recognise the feeling of my cap being pulled off but horror and alarm still floods through me as I hear the following, rather pregnant, pause.
"What is this?" I hear Killian's steel tone.
"...Hair?"
I hear nothing but I can only imagine the look that Killian is giving Sage right now.
"We shall talk about this later, first we must warm him, or rather, her up."
The truth is out but I am too numb to comprehend anything and I feel myself slipping back into the welcoming embrace of sleep.
"She needs body warmth, it's the quickest way to warm her up." Killian says.
"You are right," Sage replies, "but it only makes sense for you to hold her. You are much bigger then me."
As I'm drifting off I feel myself being enveloped by warmth and I snuggle closer to it.
~~~
"Ell, you need to drink some water," I hear Sage say, shaking my shoulder gently, "You are beginning to heat up."
He's right, my whole body does feels hot, I open my eyes see that it is now day, and the cave is lit up by sunlight, my cloak lays discarded beside me. I start struggling to sit up so Sage helps me lean against him.
"Here, drink up."
With trembling fingers I take the waterskin and lift it to my parched lips, eagerly drinking the ice cold water.
"Where's Killian?" I ask, after drinking.
"He's gone out hunting,"
"Ah, thank you for looking after me." I give him a small smile.
"It's what I'm here for,"
I take another sip of water, "So Killian no knows I'm a girl huh."
"You heard that moment?"
"Yeah, I woke up briefly."
Sage nods, "Yeah, it was necessary for warming you up, I'm sorry."
"Don't be, it had to be done, does he know who I am?"
"No, he only knows your name."
I struggle to turn around, "My name?!"
"Don't worry, not your full name, only Ell,"
I flop in relief, "Thank goodness, we need to think up a new story to explain why I was pretending,"
"Yes, we do, but only once you are better, you need rest and we aren't going anywhere anytime soon, so sleep."
"Okay."
~~~
I'm dancing through a field. Daffodils are waving in the long grass and the sun is shining. Birds singing joyously in the trees surrounding the meadow, and there in the distance is a figure. As I draw closer I begin to recognise the shape, but it can't be... can it?
"Will?" I call out.
"Ella!"
It is him!
I start running and he meets me in the middle of the meadow and he hugs me.
"How are you here?" I exclaim, the happiness of seeing my childhood friend, my ex to-be future husband.
"Where is here?"
Where is here? I pause to think but I can come up with no explanations.
"It doesn't matter, because you are doing so well,"
I smile, but suddenly he disappears and I hear a new voice from behind me.
"Novella, where are you?"
I spin on my heal and see my father, a worried expression on his face.
"Father!"
"Where have you gone, Lord Golding is looking for you everywhere!"
"Its okay father," Though my guilt does a somersault in my stomach, I left without saying goodbye to either of them, but I then remind myself, it was for the best. If I had stayed I still would have had to have left them just this way I get to keep my freedom.
"I shall write to you once I am settled down!" I go to hug him but he disappears and suddenly I am alone.
The wind picks up, but it's not cooling, its hot and it carries dust that blows everywhere, clouding the sun and sending the world into an eery but not quite dark light.
I try to run but suddenly my feet are stuck into the ground. Panic envelops me and I scream, my arms flailing.
Then suddenly bright, scorching light fills my eyes, blinding me.
~~~
I wake up gasping, covered in sweat, my body on fire.
"Are you okay?" Killian asks worriedly.
"Hot, really hot," I manage to say.
"Here is water," He passes me the waterskin and I greedily pour it down my throat. Whilst I'm doing that Killian runs outside and through my hazy vision I see him gathering snow. He comes back and sits down beside where I'm lying on my cloak.
I feel my whole body trembling, "Where, where is Sage?"
"He's currently tending to the horses, hold still this should help."
He lays a piece of cloth over my forehead and I sigh in relief, its cold.
"I need more layers off." I manage to say.
"Okay, we don't want you getting cold though suddenly."
He gently takes off my shoes and my feet suddenly feel the cold air.
Everything aches.
I feel Killian touching my forehead.
"You are still too hot, I need more cloths." I barely notice his absents this time as he gets up.
All I can focus on is the terrible heat lighting up my body and the pounding in my head before I give into the darkness once more.
A/N:
31 chapters done, we hit 2000 reads and finally, Ella's real gender is revealed! Everything is happening!!
What tale will Ella and Sage spin now... that is, if Ella makes it...
How do you Killian will react when he's not preoccupied with looking after someone?
Questions questions!
Anyways I hope you enjoyed!
SouthernAlps over and out...