Fan Fiction ❯ Vailla ❯ Chapter Four ( Chapter 4 )

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Cold fear gripped Trigger's heart as he walked into their camp. It was all very quiet, too quiet for after what had just happened. Hayley had managed to scratch her way out of Trigger's hands and had run up to her master, who lay motionless on the floor. Trigger stood in disbelief and horror, memories of the pain he felt when he thought she was dead flooded back with a fresh new fear all over again. He shook himself out of that state of shock and ran over to her body. Her hair and body was thick with sweat and she clung onto her Staff with her left hand. Her right hand looked as though it had been scorched badly and rested limply on her chest. She was still breathing but only barely and Trigger could not wake her. He lifted her beside the fire that unbelievably was still burning and laid a blanket over her and rolled up his own blanket and used it to support her head. He then sat by her, not taking his protective eyes of her beautiful face.

Vailla slowly opened her eyes, she was still very weak and pain pulsed through her entire body. She looked around her, Trigger was sleeping very close to her and Vailla knew that he had been keeping watch all night. It looked about noon when Vailla looked into the sky, and she smiled. She had defended the one she loved and her Staff by her power alone. She didn't have many memories from that night but she did remember her father's screams of pain as he disappeared and that somehow brought her some comfort. But he was not dead and Vailla knew that if she ever had to use her power like that again against him he would die but so would she. But she did not care. She pulled her Staff closer to her. "So how did I do?" She asked smugly. Her Staff glowed with golden pride and Vailla laughed weakly and then coughed. "I won't be doing that again in a hurry." Her coughing had woken Trigger and he rushed to her side.

"Vailla? Do you need anything?" He asked frantically.

"No." She replied. Trigger looked at her, his eyes were puffy from lack of sleep and worry. "How long have I been asleep?"

"Nearly two days, I was beginning to think you would never wake up." He replied; his voice filled with relief. Vailla tried to sit up but winced and lay back down. Her hand was in a bandage and was very sensitive to touch.

"We better are going soon then, we wasted enough time staying here as it is." Vailla successfully sat herself up this time.

"What?" Trigger exclaimed.

"Trigger listen, I have to defeat my father for good. He may be running around with only one hand but he is still a very dangerous fellow. I'm going to Laces to stand trail as planned and go with the flow. Don't forget I've got a time limit to get there." Vailla explained sternly. Trigger looked at her and knew that he couldn't change her mind. He took her hand in his and looked longingly into her eyes.

"Vailla I don't want you to die, or be hurt in any way but I don't know how I can help you. I am no match against your father or his minions. But I love you Vailla, more then I've ever loved anyone and I don't want to lose you." Tears were welling in his eyes as well as Vailla's.

"I don't love you." She lied. She loved him dearly but to tell him was only going to put him in danger. Maybe if she hurt him he wouldn't come with her to Laces and he would be safe from her father. "I can't, it for your own good Trigger."

"But why?" Trigger asked desperately. Vailla didn't know what to say to him so she fainted theatrically and fell into his arms. Trigger sighed and placed her back on the ground and walked away to feed Hayley. Once Vailla was sure that he was gone she slowly opened one eye and watched him. Why didn't she tell him?

Vailla had insisted that they started early the next day. Trigger wasn't very happy with the idea but Vailla had just threatened to go without him if he didn't want to go. She had to relay on her Staff when she walked and took rests fairly often but she didn't care, at least they were moving. Trigger had became like an annoying fly always hovering over her, Vailla had resisted the urge to smack him in the face so far but wasn't sure how long she would keep it up. It was starting to get dark and the sky was filled with a warm orange glow from the sunset. The had only covered about five miles in that day but Vailla was really in the condition to do their normal `ten leagues a day'. Vailla knew that it would get dark soon and even though she didn't really want to, she let Trigger make up camp for the night. Since there was still a little light left in the sky and Vailla had become very smelly with all the travelling she had done she decided to take a bath in the near-by lake while Trigger cooked the food. "Are you sure you'll be alright on your own Vailla?" Trigger asked when Vailla told him where she was going.

"The real question is will you be alright on your own? You still got that talisman I gave you, don't be afraid to use it Trigger." Then with a toss of her head she stormed off.

The lake shimmered in the sunset, an orange reflection on the sun itself rippled in the water. Trees surrounded a small area of the lake letting Vailla have her privacy while getting undressed. There was a cool breeze that tussled her hair and made her eager to get into the water. After she folded her clothes she slowly unwrapped her bandage around her hand. The bandage had yellow spots because of the puss and her hand was still inflamed but it was healing. She wiggled her fingers a little and let some cool air get to her hand. After that she picked up her Staff in her one good hand and walked to the side of the lake. She put her Staff into the water and small ripples of glitter surrounded it, then the water began to steam a little. Vailla sighed a sigh of pure pleasure as she slowly sank into the cosy water that the Staff had warmed up for her. She had taken an ice-cold bath before and was not willing to do it again.

She floated blissfully for about half an hour when she heard a twig snap behind her. At first she thought it was an animal but her senses told her that this was no animal. She quickly got out of the water and put on her clothes, while still watching for the person sneaking around. She heard another snap. Vailla clung unto her Staff tight and slowly walked forward. Suddenly she saw a shadow at the corner of her eye climb up a tree so she spun round. The tree's branches were not very thick and the very few autumn leaves still attached did not hide her little visitor well. Sat in the tree was a small girl about the age of six; she had her sandy blond hair tied in little pigtails. Her huge green eyes stared down at Vailla, looking more curious than frightened. The small girl held a tatty old teddy bear with two limbs, an eye and an ear missing. Her clothes were far from fancy and it reminded Vailla of the clothes she used to wear. It was one big jumper that hung of one shoulder and a thick piece of rope was tied round her waist. Her feet were stained with grass and dirt as she swung them merrily. "Hello." She said in a voice no louder than a whisper. Vailla was surprised that her once thought enemy was a small girl and it took her a while to answer.

"Hello. What's your name little girl?" Vailla asked softly. The girl smiled and then giggled as she jumped down from the tree.

"Laurie. What's yours?" She asked while fiddling with the button eye of her teddy.

"My name is Vailla. What are you doing all the way out here? I haven't seen any houses round here for miles."

"I ran away, they're nasty to me at home. I'm looking for my brother, have you seen him?" She asked hopefully. "He is tall and has the same colour hair as me."

"I'm not sure Laurie. Why don't you come back to my camp with me? You can meet my friend."

"Okay." Vailla could detect a small amount of disappointment in her little friend's voice.

Trigger was just lighting the fire when Vailla came into camp. His face was set with determination as he once again rubbed the flint together. "Hello Vailla I was…" Trigger eyes fell onto the small girl at her side. "Laurie?"

"Trigger!" She squealed with delight and ran up to her brother wrapping her arms around him.

"What are you doing here? I thought I told you to stay with that family!" Trigger's voice was angry but at the same time happy to see Laurie.

"They were nasty people Trigger, and so I came to look for you. Please don't make me go back there!" Tears were welling up in her eyes.

"Okay, we'll find someone else for you to stay with then but please stay there this time."

"Can't I come with you?" She asked between sobs.

"I've told you before Laurie. I will take you with me when you're older but until then you must stay with the people I leave you with. Otherwise I won't be able to find you when I you can come with me. Understand?" Trigger told her firmly. Laurie obliviously knew what to do and why she had to do it but she didn't want to.

"I'm hungry." She told him quietly. Trigger laughed and gave her a nice big hug.

"As soon as I get this fire going I'll get you something to eat." Trigger said while eyeing the piece of flint in his hand. Vailla took the flint from Trigger's hand and looked at it.

"You just found this in the ground didn't you?" Vailla asked while handing back the flint. Trigger nodded and Vailla laughed. "It's been in the cold earth Trigger, it's damp. Do you want me to light the fire?"

"No! You're still weak Vailla." Trigger objected.

"Staff work, hand doesn't." She showed him her Staff then her un-bandage hand that was still very badly burnt. "You see where I'm getting with this?" Vailla walked up to the small fire and uttered a small spell and the dry wood and grass quickly caught fire. Laurie walked up to Vailla, her face very serious. Then she took her burnt hand in her tiny soft hands and kissed it.

"All better." She whispered.

After they had their food Laurie went to sleep leaving Trigger and Vailla talking under the moonlight. "Why didn't you tell me about Laurie?" Vailla asked while stroking her head. Laurie's head rested on her lap as she slept.

"You never asked." Trigger shrugged. "I got to find some place for her to stay though, we can't bring her along."

"I agree, but we can't stay in one place too long or he'll find me again." Vailla said as her voice had hardened with anger as she mentioned her father.

"I know. I got some money, I'll pay some noblewoman to look after her and that hopefully won't take long."

"Or you can stay at Lin with Laurie and I'll go on without you. I'll look you up after I've been to Laces." Vailla suggested hopefully. She didn't want to put Trigger in any further danger especially now that she knew he had family.

"Nice try but it's not going to work. You know I would not let you face your father alone."

"I don't care if you let me or not, I'm going to the trial alone." A wicked grin appeared on her face. "If you wait in the town centre you might see me tied on a stake in the middle of a bonfire."

"Vailla!" Trigger said shocked.

"I'm kidding, you think my Staff would allow that to happen? But seriously, you mustn't come with me to the trial." Trigger didn't answer that. Vailla sighed and looked at Trigger. "I wasn't going to let you come to the trail anyway, but now I know you have a sister there is no way you're going, even if I have to lock you up and put you on a ship for Wrendore." Before Trigger could say anything Laurie stirred muttering something in her sleep. Trigger did not understand the words of course but Vailla did. Laurie was speaking the language Vailla said her spells and she said,

"Peace is with the traveller who travels towards doom without friends." This troubled Vailla but she did not show it.

"I'm going to bed now Trigger." She slowly lifted Laurie off her lap and then rested her softly on the ground. "I would bring her in my tent with me but I don't think it's a very good idea. Just in case she turns over and touches my Staff." Vailla then crawled into her tent, and laid thinking about what had came out of the say girl's mouth.

Vailla stirred slowly, she had her head sleeping on both her hands. Her right hand felt like her left, numb from a night of resting on it but no longer in pain. As Vailla realised this she looked at her once burnt hand. It was back to the way it was with not so much as a blister. "How?" She asked herself. She tumbled for her Staff, while still marvelling at her healed hand but she could not find it. She then started to search her tent frantically, but her Staff was one. Vailla almost fell out of her tent when she got out, her mind filled with worry and dread. The first thing she saw was Laurie sat by then now burnt-out fire place holding Vailla's Staff! "Laurie, drop it!" Vailla almost screamed. Laurie turned round and dropped the Staff in surprise.

"I'm sorry, I wasn't going to steal her. She told me she wanted to talk to me is all." Laurie quickly said. Vailla was unable to speak or even think. She was very confused. Then she remembered her hand, and how Laurie had kissed it the night before and how it was completely healed now. Finally she managed to speak.

"Laurie may I have my Staff back now? I need to have a few words with it in private."

"Sure." Laurie merrily obeyed and carried the Staff over to Vailla. After she competed her little task she skipped into her brother's tent giggling. Vailla looked at the Staff very confused. Then she sat on log and held the Staff up to her.

"Okay then, explain. What is this all about?" Vailla asked in a voice crossed with annoyance and confusion.

"Well it seems you're not the last sorceress Vailla. I think the Powers of Be were getting desperate and made you a sister. I was wondering why the pull between you and Trigger was so strong. If he hadn't of came into our camp that night we would of never of met Laurie. Isn't this exciting?" The Staff was talking to Vailla using telepathy, her voice sounded excited, almost like a child at Christmas.

"Not really, it's confusing. What now?" Vailla replied.

"We bring them to the trial, both of them."

"What? Are you crazy! With or without powers Laurie is still a child and Trigger would be defenceless if we came up against my father."

"Don't argue Vailla, they're coming with us whether you like it or not. I will protect them you know that, but if they don't come we will surely lose." The Staff tone had risen and Vailla knew it no used trying to explain. Vailla looked at the Staff, unable to speak and dropped it on the floor. Then she stormed off to the lake where she had had her bath the night before.

Trigger woke up to the sound of his little sister playing with a pair of very loud coins in his tent. They seemed to jiggle and jangle very loudly and he woke up with a groan. "You're finally awake. Vailla sent me in here, she wanted to talk to her gold stick." Laurie said cheerily.

"Well I'm coming out now and you can come with me to find some food for breakfast." Trigger grumbled while searching for his boot. Laurie's eyes brightened at the mention of food and she snatched his boot from the far side off he tent and handed it to her brother.

Trigger emerged from his tent to find a strange mythical looking lady; she had a tall slender figure with long black hair and a face so pale that she almost looked unreal. She looked solemnly at Trigger and smiled. Laurie ran up to the lady and wrapped her arms round her while gleefully giggling. The lady picked her up and giggled. "Hello Laurie." She said to small girl in her arms. Then she looked at Trigger. "Trigger I need to talk to you alone. Laurie could you go and find some berries for breakfast? I'm every so hungry." Laurie gladly ran off in search of berries leaving Trigger and Vailla's Staff alone.

"Who are you?" Trigger asked; his hands already on his dagger.

"I'm that big gold stick that Vailla carries around. I need to talk to you about Vailla, she won't listen to me."

"What's new? She never listens to no one." Trigger replied a bit more relaxed now.

"Vailla is a very stubborn child, but living in Wrendore I can't say I blame her. Her mother was killed, as you know, so Vailla had to grow up with only me as a parental role model. There is only so much a gold stick can do." She laughed to herself but all of a sudden her face turned deadly serious. "She will die if she faces her father alone and her father will win. She is lonely in this world so she takes chances that normal sane people wouldn't take. You need to go with her, you and Laurie otherwise she will fail. Vailla won't let you come along, she may even trick you and leave but you mustn't let her."

"I would never let her go off alone, I know I told her I would leave her once we got to Laces but I wasn't planning to keep my promise." Trigger said. A cool breeze rustled their hair and somehow it felt comforting.

"Another thing Trigger Vailla is still weak. Her physical body has healed completely but her mental body hasn't. A lot of bad things have happened in her life, all that hurt and anger is bottled up inside of her and is eating it's way out. If that depression gets her she will see no reason and she can very easily end her life so don't let her become depressed. If Vailla tries to use a vast amount of magic without me again so soon after the last attack she will die, so if I'm out of her reach give me to her. I won't bite." The Staff was very worried about Vailla; almost like a mother would be for her child and Trigger understood that.

"Laurie. She has magic inside her as well doesn't she?" She nodded. "I knew it. Strange things were always happening when she was around and Laurie was the only one that didn't even seem surprised. Is that why we must bring her along?"

"Yes. Laurie is different from Vailla and can use her magic in many different ways without needing an instrument to channel her magic like Vailla and her mother had to. I'm unsure of exactly what she can do but I know Laurie will help us win this battle."

"You will help me to protect them? Laurie and Vailla I mean, she is still my little sister and I don't know what I would do if I lost her, and if anything happened to Vailla…."

"You love Vailla very much don't you?" Trigger blushed. "Don't worry, I will do everything I can to protect them." She smiled wistfully at him and he couldn't help but smile back too.

"Thank you." Trigger said simply.

"Remember Trigger, she may not show it but Vailla is a very emotional girl." Then she faded into the breeze and all that was left was Vailla's staff, lying on the ground. Trigger walked up to the Staff and picked her up, just as Laurie came running up to him.

"Is the lady gone?" She asked with a note of disappointment in her voice.

"Yes. Do you know where Vailla is? I need to talk to her alone." Laurie was just about getting fed up with them talking `alone' and pointed in the direction she had seen Vailla. Trigger was about to walk off when she seen her pouting and he smiled. "Don't worry Laurie, I haven't forgotten you. Why don't you play with Hayley?" Trigger let out a long hard whistle and almost immediately Hayley came running up to them. Laurie's eyes brightened and held Hayley in her arms with pure joy. Trigger smiled at them and walked off to find Vailla, while still holding Vailla's Staff.

Vailla was by the lake chucking small stones into its murky waters. He couldn't she her far because she had her back facing him. He was about to alert her to his presence but he heard her talking. Then he heard another voice, but strangely it seemed to be coming from inside his head. "Don't talk to her yet, just listen." It was the Staff.

"To whom is she talking to?" Trigger whispered.

"Herself. She has been alone for a long time now and lonely people tend to talk to themselves. Don't hold that against her though, she is not insane…I think." Trigger actually thought he heard her giggle. He smiled rather than laughed and listened to Vailla.

"It's not fair." Vailla said while throwing yet another rock angrily into the lake. "How can she ask me to put my only friends in danger like that? I would rather die than to let anything happen to them." She sighed, what seemed a regretful sigh. "Why did you have to leave mother? I'm lost and with no one to guide me. I know I'm destined to face my father in the final battle, I read it in the stars but Trigger and Laurie can be saved from that and now she wants me to gamble with their lives." She put her head in her hands and began to cry. Trigger felt his heart wrench with pity and he wanted to comfort her but he knew that it was not the time and stayed hidden. All of a sudden Vailla sat up and wiped her tears on the back of her hand. "This is pathetic, self-pity isn't very becoming of you Vailla, no one is dead yet." She let out a scream of frustration and started to pace back and forward. "Think Vailla, think. How can you ditch Laurie and Trigger? The Staff will get involved, she wouldn't let me place a spell on the two and I don't want to hurt them." Then a bright idea came to her. "I'll ditch her too! That's it! I'll practise my own magic little by little until we get near Laces then I'll ditch the lot of them. I can tell Trigger and Laurie that I'm going somewhere and that I will return and leave the Staff with them. Then I'll get the hell out of there and head to Laces!" Her voice was full of excitement at such a great idea and she almost seemed to dance.

"Talk to her now Trigger." Came the voice inside of Trigger head, this time it seemed angry but Trigger chose not to question it. Trigger stepped out of his hiding place from behind a tree and started to walk forward.

"Have you been spying on me?" Vailla asked in a cruel voice.

"No, I've only just come." He lied. He wasn't about to tell her that he had heard her plot to ditch them.

"Good. I see you got my Staff. What lies have she been polluting your mind with? Whatever she said to you ignore her, she is nothing but a stupid stick." Vailla replied her voice was no less cruel than before.

"She told me you would die if you face your father alone."

"She couldn't tell you the future no more than a pig could. Are you willing to put yourself or Laurie in danger? All for a girl you met on the side of the road? A girl who you was going to steal from!" Vailla was fuming now, she shouted so loud that they could probably hear her all the way back in Wrendore.

"You are not just a girl I met, don't you see that? We were meant to meet. It was destiny Vailla! Just like we are destined to go to meet and destroy your father together!"

"What about your sister you dolt! Isn't she important to you? She is barely six years old and you're ready to risk her life on some mysterious mumble jumble that a stick told you? I don't care if that kid can heal, for all I care she can shoot fire out of her ears but she is still too young. I should have got rid of you in the forest!"

"Then why didn't you? You knew it was going to be dangerous so why did you let me tag along?" Trigger asked fiercely. He wasn't angry with Vailla, but he decided that shouting was the only way to get across to her.

"I wanted to talk to something taller than my knees and not covered with fur. Please Trigger listen to me! It is too dangerous I don't want and I don't need you to come. The stars have been wrong before I promise I will defy them again for you but only if you stay away."

"No." Trigger's voice was set with determination.

"How can you dislike me so much?" Vailla demanded.

"What? I don't dislike you and you know that. I love you that is why I want to protect you." Trigger had become thick with emotion but Vailla still stood as solid as a rock.

"If you and your sister come I will have to protect you instead. I'll put my life down for you two and my father knows that so the first people he is going to strike is you and I will have to defend you. I cannot do that and protect myself at the same time. It will be like concentrating of a good pocket you're about to pick without your sister giving the game away." Trigger knew he was right and she was wrong, but he didn't know how to convince her, make her understand so he just sighed and looked at her regretfully.

"We do what we planned, and we can talk about this when we get to Laces. I'm bringing Laurie along, I don't like to leave her with strangers." Before Vailla could object Trigger turned round and walked back to camp. I sorry Trigger, but I had to trick you Vailla thought rather than say it aloud, after all she only ever talked to herself when she wanted other people to hear.