34 Second War (1/2)

When James got to the battlements he saw a sea of red. The little Gerrabella child he had seen came to mind and Lilly's pain. A growling started to rise from the troops then the battle began. Spears and Javelins bounced off the walls, some aimed high enough to come over the wall. Volleys of arrows were sent in reply and row after row of Gerrabellas were wiped out.

Many Gerabellas came forward with a log between them all. They smashed it against the gate, another Gerrabella taking the place of a fallen comrade as arrows and rocks were raining down on them to prevent the wall from being broken. But all too soon the arrows were gone and the final smash of the log broke the wall enough to let the Gerrabellas in. James fell with the wall. He bounced when he hit the ground. Stones and soldiers fell around him. Red filled his vision. Then there was nothing.

James moaned and scrunched his face in pain. The air around him felt warm. Everything hurt. His head and abdomen especially. And he felt weaker than he had in some time. He felt something slide down his arm. He caught the small hand in his.

'Lilly?' he wondered.

'I'm here, James,' she replied.

He smiled.

”James?”

His head turned toward the sound and opened the eye that wasn't covered. ”Carthago?” His voice sounded different.

Lilly stood to take care of the bloody water and James hand tightened around hers. She kissed him and he let her go. She slipped quietly out of the room and James turned back to Carthago. They talked for some time about how the soldiers were doing, the aid of the Adremedians, and the repairs that were needing to be made to the wall, before Carthago left so he could rest.

James woke at three in the morning with a burning sensation in his side. He tried to move away from it, but couldn't. His movement woke Lilly up and she saw he was bent a little funny. Her hand slid across his abdomen to his side. He lifted it. 'It burns.'

'It'll be okay, love.' She moved her hand from his and put it back. He tried to move it again, but she caught his hand.

'Lilly, stop! It burns!'

She refused to move and within seconds he felt the burning start to cool and he could sleep again.

James woke slightly as Lilly worked on his head injury. She looked exhausted.

'Lilly, how long have you been up?'

'Several hours.'

'Did you get any sleep last night?'

'A few hours.' She finished wrapping his face and he held her hands in one of his.

'You should get some rest.'

'Not yet. I need to check on the others.' She started to stand.

'Lilly.'

'James, I need to know how the other Adremedians are before I can rest peacefully. I won't be gone long.' Lilly left after giving him a kiss.

While she was out, a servant woman came in with two bowls of soup. She helped him sit up and tucked several pillows behind him to keep him propped up before she handed him one of the bowls. He had just started to lift the bowl to his lips when Lilly returned. His hands shook and threatened to overturn the bowl. Lilly's hands steadied his before he spilled it.

'Sorry,' he said.

'Don't be. You just need to take it a little slower. There is still much recovery ahead of you.'

'If only I hadn't...' He looked down.

'James, we can't change the past anymore than we can predict the future. Becoming bitter about your choices will only slow the healing.'

Lilly kept her hands over his to help him hold it while he finished the soup. Then she helped him lie back down so he could sleep. 'You too,' he said.

'In a moment.'

James watched her. Fighting the desire to sleep while she drank her soup. Only when she lay next to him did he allow himself to sleep.

He woke that evening to soft voices by the door. Lilly was still asleep by his side.

”Carthago?” he asked quietly.