30 Gerrabella Child (1/2)

James followed her to a few more bunches of animals and to some plants before she finally leaned against a tree to rest. The bandages on her hands were darker and he unwrapped them to look at them. The skin was completely healed and there were no scars. Only bruises remained. Lilly smiled at his look of wonder as he ran his fingers over them. Her eyes closed and she fell asleep. When she woke up, she felt James' arms around her and one hand with its fingers locked in hers. His chin rested on her shoulder.

'Sleep well?' he asked.

'I did.'

'Rosae Lilly, are you okay?' Willow asked, finding them. A bloody tear trail could be seen on one of her cheeks.

'Yes Willow.'

'What happened to your hands?'

'I made the voices upset. This is how they have decided to teach me the lesson I needed to learn. It shouldn't hinder my work for long.'

Willow caught the change in expression on James' face and glared. 'Angry voices? Or broken by Humans?'

'Angry voices, Willow. I understand your loss of Korah, but your anger should not be taken out on others for that reason.'

'Yes, Rosae Lilly.' Willow bowed slightly and left.

'Lilly, why didn't you tell her what really happened?'

'I did. Telling her otherwise would only give her a reason to hate you. Adremedians don't need reasons to hate others. We need to be accepting of all…regardless of how much they hate us.'

'The Gerrabellas?'

'For that extreme, yes. There are times when even Humans and other Adremedians get that way,... but life shortens so much for those that let anger rule them.' Lilly turned to him.

He kissed her softly at first then a little more passionately. 'Now what?'

'More healing and we'll go from there.'

'All right.' He walked with her, one arm around her waist.

There wasn't all that much to do that afternoon. Lilly pointed out various bushes and small plants that berries and roots could be collected from. While Lilly worked, he gathered a few things and fed them to her between healing. He ate as well and when everything was finished they sat on a large tree stump. The sun was setting and James felt tired. He laid down. Lilly lay next to him, and rested her right hand on his chest. He pulled her closer and held onto her.

When morning came, James was still asleep. He woke as Lilly walked out into the trees and watched what was going on around her. He stretched then rolled over to join her. He hugged her. They watched for a while before James broke the silence.

'...Lilly, will you tell me more about the lines you reconnected in yourself?'

'The energy lines I healed allow me to use the earth's energy to heal so I do not have to exhaust my strength. However, it requires undamaged hands to be able to use it properly. Thank you for holding the small animals. It allowed me to use that energy though my hands are hurt.' She yawned.

'Are you tired?'

'A little, but...'

'No buts. I want you to rest a little more before you do anything else.'

'Okay.'

James took her to a shady spot and sat where she could lean against him. It didn't take her long to fall asleep. While she slept, James held her hands and played with her fingers. It was nearing noon when Lilly stirred.

'Thank you for making me rest.'

'Always,' he smiled.

She sat up a little more then lay on her hands moaning softly.

'Lilly, what's wrong?'

She moved her hands out and they were a darker color. 'Guess I'm not supposed to use them just yet.'

'What happened? They were getting better.'

'They're still healing. Some of the cuts were really deep.' She took her knife to cut some cloth off her pants, but James took it and cut off his sleeves. Gently, he wrapped her hands once more before returning her knife to her belt. 'Thank you, James.'

'You're welcome, Lilly. I want you to get better, since you've decided to continue your work out here.'

'I understand. Maybe it's been too long since I've needed a string of long or hard recoveries. I've forgotten all the down time that's required so they can heal quickly.'

'Then I guess I'll have to stick around to remind you.'

'I wish you would, my husband.'

'Then I will, my sweet wife.' James kissed her and held her. '…Lilly, there's something I want to show you.'

'Okay.'

He picked her up and carried her to the edge of the forest where Torta waited. After setting her on the horse, he climbed up and Torta moved off to the distant cliffs. They had climbed the ridge and passed the river where she had once been laid to break a fever.

'It's just over this next...' James stopped when Lilly shifted and Torta stopped. 'Lilly, what's...?' He stopped and could hear his inner Gerrabella laughing. ”Hehe. The village is gone. Sweet savor, the burning flesh; joyful music, the sound of screams.” James broke away he couldn't stand to listen to more. 'Torta, move!'

Torta ran until they were in the castle courtyard. He stopped where Carthago waited.

”James, what's going on?”

”Abruhi Village has been destroyed! Gerrabellas are here.” He climbed off and left Lilly for a moment.

”Gather the Generals! Form up the troops!” Carthago called. He looked at Lilly as her eyes rolled back into her head and she started to fall off Torta. He caught her and James moved to her side.

'Lilly?'

He didn't hear her, but he felt a ripple of pain as he touched her face. ”Thank you, Carthago.”

”What's wrong with her?”'

”I don't know, but she's in pain. I'll take her inside.”

”Very well. Meet us in the great hall.”

”Okay.” James took her to his room and laid her on the bed. 'Lilly?'

'Help your people...James. You can't...help me...now.'

'What's wrong?'

'Internal...battle... Go!'