Chapter IV:
A Late Night Walk, and The Wreck
Three days passed, and Mihanna never made a sound. Jaramiah worried if she would ever speak again. “Or is she...no, no. I mustn't think that.” he said, clearing the thought from his head. The large heavy door opened, and Ragar, Telibraun, and an elderly man walked in. The older man was a doctor, for he acted like one. Telibraun walked over to Jaramiah's cell, he looked at the wall, but was talking to the captain. He looked at him, at an angle, and asked him, very nicely: “Has she moved at all?” The captain didn't answer. “Please!” he said, getting louder, in a very pleading tone of voice. “If not, then it could be the end for her; Please!” he ended, grabbing the bars of the cell. “No.” he answered, finally, not looking at him. “No. She hasn't. No thanks to you!” he yelled, getting up and walking over to the cell door. “Quiet!” Ragar yelled, turning to them. “And you had better co-operate, or I'll throw you into the icy sea!” he said, pointing at Jaramiah. The captain walked back over to his bed, and sat down, still watching them. Mihanna's cell was opened, and the doctor went in. A few quiet minutes went by, until he came out. “I do not know.” he said, shaking his head. Ragar was desperate. He looked at Jaramiah, and raised an eye brow. “Tell me captain, do you have any experienced with the wounded?” he asked, walking to his cell. “Yes. I do. I use to be a wonderer, there for, I needed to know how to deal with the injured.” Jaramiah said, not looking at him. Ragar walked back to Telibraun. “Free the Captain.” he said, giving him the key. Telibraun, looked confused, then did as he was ordered. “Captain.” Ragar began, as Jaramiah came forward. “If you can wake her, more time to spend with her shall be allowed you.” Jaramiah looked around, thinking. “Well?” Ragar asked, coaxingly. “Fine.” He said. Looking in his eyes. “But not for you; for her.” he said, pushing past him. Ragar was angry, but hid it, (poorly). Jaramiah walked over to her, knelt by her side, and whispered to her: “I hope you here me. I have a plan, and it just might work. But you've got to get up.” It was too quiet for them to here, and Jaramiah continued with his examination. He put his hand on her forehead. “She is cold, very cold.” He said, thinking. Her put his ear to her mouth, and felt a slight bit of warm air on it. “She is breathing. This is good!” he said, getting excited. He took her hand, then touched her forehead. He closed his eyes, and thought a moment. “Do you have any ManJô Bóï Jõn?” he asked, quietly. The doctor shook his head. “No.” he said. “We have no use for it here. Why do you ask?” Jaramiah left her side, and walked over to them. “It is what I used when I was tending to the wounded, when I was traveling. Though, most, only see it as a flower killer; it's healing powers, are immense. Never mind I have some. It may be old, and crumbled, but it's virtue is still there. It might be enough, to undo the harshness, of sleep.” They looked at each other, not knowing what to say. “In other words; When she hit the wall, a series of smaller hits followed. So when she went under, it wouldn't have taken that much to bring her out of it. But, because you have waited so long, it will take something very powerful to wake her now.” Jaramiah looked back at Mihanna, then at them. “I'll need some water, a flask, and a cloth.” he said, counting on his fingers. The doctor looked at Telibraun. “Well, dodn't just stand there boy.” he said. “Go get the young lad what he needs!” Telibraun hurried off, and Ragar was cracking up at the Doctor's remark. The Captain walked back over to her, and sat beside her. He took her hand, and kissed it. Then he ever so gently stroked it, back and forth. Presently, Telibraun returned, with all the Jaramiah had asked for. “Here.” he said, thrusting them into his arms, while he looked angrily in his eyes. He took the things, and went to work again. Jaramiah put some of the water, in the flask, and a little on the cloth. He set the cloth on her head, lifted her head, and poured the drink down her throat, while whispering: “Maili ónî åarníä” Telibraun and the doctor looked at each other. “He said 'Maili needs you'.” Ragar said, knowing a bit of elvish. She swallowed it, but did not move. He waited before giving her more. Then he proceeded. Nothing. “It is as I feared.” He said, standing up. “What?” Ragar asked curiously. “I've tried all I know to do. Only an elf can help her now.” he said, sadly. He walked back over to her, and took the rag, and dabbed her forehead with it. The elf stirred! She opened her eyes! Jaramiah's grip tightened on her hand, and he stroked her face. Mihanna smiled slightly. Ragar watched as she began to talk. “What happened?” she said, in a whisper. “You were thrown against the wall. Remember? You have been asleep for three days. And I have been tending to you. So there is no need to fear.” Jaramiah said, looking in her eyes. Jaramiah untied her hands, and whispered to her, this went on for about five minutes. Ragar gave Jaramiah a sign, saying they needed to go. Jaramiah took Mihanna's hand, and sat down on the bed with her. “You must go. I don't want you to get hurt any more than you already have. So, you must.” Her eyes grew sad. She leaned over and hugged him. Jaramiah was shocked, then he fell into it. He returned the gesture. She had trouble standing at first, but then after Jaramiah helped her up, she was able to move in no time. As she was passing him, she leaned over and whispered in his ear: “I will see you again. And when I do, it will be before a great happening.” She left the room sadly, and watched him as she did. His eyes followed her, as he was locked back in his cell. All was quiet, and once again he was left in the musty room all alone. He wondered what Mihanna meant, by her words. Mihanna was being pulled, and pushed up the stairs. She didn't look at either of them, but they both were scolding her the entire way up. They came to the tower door. Telibraun opened it, and Ragar pushed her in. She almost fell to the floor, but Telibraun caught her. She sat on the bed, and looked down at the floor. Ragar went on and on. Telibraun came over and looked in her eyes. She pulled away from him sadly. “What have I done?” he asked, very sincerely. Mihanna looked up at him, and gave him a DUH Look. “What have you done?!” she started, getting mad. “You, you...” But she didn't finish, she just looked away. She walked over to the window. “I, I, I just wanna go home.” she whispered falling to the floor. She began to cry, and threw her face in her hands. Telibraun actually felt pain, deep in his heart. He walked over, and knelt beside her. “I am sorry for what I have done in the past. But I do wish to know, do you still love me?” He asked, taking her. Mihanna looked up at him, understanding in her eyes. “You betrayed me, and my family. I will not pretend to love some one, I don't. Any love I had for you, is gone, forever.” she said, pulling her hand away, and walking back to the bed. “Did you think I had no idea, that the man I thought I loved was now working for my worst enemy? Well, I do, and I will love you no more!” She said, in a half yelling tone. “Then I will not pretend either. I never really loved you anyway. I was using you, to get the information, the knowledge, I needed, and it worked. You family was easy to persuade. And You would do wise to be the same.” he ended, walking over to the bed. Ragar began to talk now. “Listen carefully.” he started. “I want something, and you had better get it. Or you can say, good bye to your beloved captain!” He said, getting in Mihanna's face. She backed away, then pushed Ragar away from her. He was angrier now, than ever before. “If you touch him, I'll...” she began. “You'll what?” Ragar sneered, knowing she could do nothing. Mihanna knew that she had no choice. Ragar and Telibraun looked at each other, then decided to leave. “I'll be back later. Telibraun.” Ragar said, looking back at him. “Sir.” Telibraun said, walking behind him. “I want you to stay here. Keep an eye on her, don't let her out of your site, watch her like a hawk!” He said, out of breath. Mihanna didn't want anyone to stay with her, as you can imagine. Ragar left and closed, and locked the door. Mihanna laid down on the bed, and rolled on her side. She stared at the wall, until sleep took her. Telibraun; not being able to leave her unguarded; went and sat down in a corner, and there he slept. Late, very late, in the night, it was, when Mihanna woke up. She looked around, then forgetting that Telibraun was there, she gasped, when she saw him. She covered her mouth. He didn't move. She took a deep breath. She crept over to the door, and tried the nob; it was locked. She thought. Then she took out a hair pin, holding up a tress of hair. Mihanna put it in the key hole, and spun it around a couple times. There was a click, and the door fell ajar. “Yes!” she said to herself. She looked at Telibraun, who seemed to be asleep. She pushed on the door, and walked out. But, Telibraun was not asleep, for he quickly got up, and followed her. Mihanna was quiet, very quiet, so quiet that no one but an elf could have heard her sneaking down, the stairs, and to the cellar. She opened the door, this was not that quiet. Jaramiah looked up from his bed, as she came toward him. “I knew it was you.” he said, walking over to the door. “Yes, but I can't stay long. I have a feeling some one knows I'm here.” Mihanna said, taking his hand. “I'm just so glad to see you.” the captain said, stroking her hair. Mihanna gasped. Jaramiah looked at her gravely. “What is it?” he asked. “Now I know, some one knows I'm down here.” she said, touching her throat. “I'm sorry, but we are both in danger, the longer I'm down here.” she said, as he watched her leave. She ran; quietly; up the stairs, and opened the door. There was Ragar, not even three feet in front of her! She had no time to run, for he had tripped her, and closed the door. Before she could get up, or think, Mihanna was pulled, by her good arm, up to Ragar's height. He opened his mouth to speak, but just then there was a loud crashing sound, and they were thrown to the floor. Ragar landed on his back, and Mihanna landed on her side. “This had better not be your doings!” he yelled. He still had a tight hold on her arm. He picked her up, and walk to the door. But they were intercepted by three solders. “We've hit sharp rocks Sir.” one said, with a solute. “Here.” Ragar said, tossing Mihanna to them. She fell amongst them, and they lifted her up. “Take her to a boat, with lots of solders in it, and save a spot for me. Have others, get the boy from the cellar, and gather goods.” he said, taking the special rope, from his belt, and handing it to them. “And tie her with this.” He said, as they left. Mihanna was taken up the stairs, and up to the deck. She was shoved to the ladder, hanging over the side. She went down, and a solder at the bottom, helped her off. When she was in the boat, her wrists were tied, and she was told to sit in the middle of the boat, in the floor. She did this, and found it painfully hard. “Save a spot for the boss!” the man who told her to do this yelled. She looked, and saw Ragar coming down, and behind him; Jaramiah! Ragar got in the boat she was in, and the captain was put in the one behind theirs. Ragar sat right in front of Mihanna, blocking her sight, of Jaramiah. She looked away from him, and rested her head on the seat behind her. After twenty minutes or so, she fell into the power of the rope, and drifted off to sleep. The last thing she heard, was Ragar talking to his men, about food for the morning. Then she fell into uneasy dreams.
Morning dawned even less cheerful than the day before. Ragar gave the word, and Mihanna was freed. She was given a piece of bread, and some of Jaramiah's drink mixture. It was warm, and gave her new strength, not that she could do any thing with it though. The weariness wore off, and she felt more cheerful, if that's what you would call it. She now turned from the piercing eyes of Ragar, and turned to see their direction. She could see far off, if she squinted her eyes, the distant shore of land. There was moving around in the boat, and she felt warm air on the back of her neck. She wheeled around, to see Ragar in her face. “That is Mengolion.” he said, as Mihanna turned back around. “Thither we are going. Ah.” he said, remembering the past. “Long has my life been lived upon it's shores.” “Well my life hasn't, nor do I want it to be!” Mihanna retorted, over her shoulder. “Quiet!” Ragar yelled. “You'll have talk soon enough. More than you'd like, I'll warrant.” Ragar sat right behind her, digging his knees in her back. Mihanna bit her tongue, and held back further comments. That afternoon they stopped for food. Ragar did not eat, he constantly whispered, and occasionally talked to the solders about “When we get to Mengolion”, but never did he eat. Finally, Mihanna couldn't take it any more. She was tired of his snake whispering! She stood up, in the boat, and said. “That's it!” Ragar grabbed her hands, and began to pull her back down. “I'm tired of you!” she yelled, fighting his grip. Jaramiah's boat's occupants were watching with swords drawn, and arrows pointed. Jaramiah knew he had to do something, before Mihanna was hurt again. He took a deep breath, and plunged into the cold water. “Jaramiah!” Mihanna screamed, pulling Ragar's hand away from her mouth. He tied her again, this time, in front of her, and through her back down in the boat. Then they waited for him to give them the sign to shoot. A blur surfaced about four yards away, and called back to Mihanna “I'll be back for you!” Jaramiah yelled, as he swam away. “No!” Ragar yelled, frustrated. “You!” he called. Turning to Mihanna. “This is all your fault! You WILL regret this, oh yes you will!” he continued. “If you don't come back with me; then you don't come back at all!” he said. “Fire at will!” he shouted, and the men shot their arrows. Mihanna watched in horror, as every arrow was spent. She pleaded, and begged them to stop, but no one heard her, for just then the boat tipped over! Ragar grabbed Mihanna as he swam to the surface. She gasped for air, but was pulled back under! Something had her arm, and Ragar let go, as she was dragged away. She was pulled down, and away from the chaos that was behind them. The figure began to surface, and she saw it was Jaramiah! He loosed the bonds that held her, and knotted the rope. Then he looked at it, then threw it far, far away, in the water. Then he grabbed Mihanna's arm, and they swam away.