Fairyland Chronicles - Character Side Stories

[Summerstream]

(....Double posting /otl)

“..Thank you... Really.”

“You owe me.”

Back and forth, a comforting stroking motion was lulling her to sleep. It was the last sensation she had as she drifted off into her dreams after murmuring the three words. She was curled into a pillow, her head resting on another. Fitting, considering the childish way she had been lulled to sleep. If anyone walked into the room when she slept like this, it would look innocent. Fighting the urge to collapse, she had begged, Ezekiel to help her fall asleep. She couldn't let the people in the small village find out about her sleeping trouble. Summerstream wouldn't let herself be blamed for waking everyone.

She couldn't take her nightmares anymore.

It was the trick that Bushido had done for her before. Petting her head as she drifted off to help trick her mind into thinking she was safe. Somehow, in the few minutes it took for her to pass out, it worked.

She opened her eyes blinking at a wooden ceiling.

'How odd. That's not what my roof looks like,' Summerstream thought, before becoming aware of a familiar, dull ache in her hips and neck. When she sat up, she took in her surroundings; a vase with fragrant lavender in it, crutches leaning against the night table, a medicine bowl to the side on a round table, warmth from the fire that crackled in a small hearth, and a mirror that was on the wall. She blinked, and it took the survey of the room to realize that she was dreaming. Her bandages were fresh, she noted, as she reached for the nearby crutches and used them to help herself to her feet.

She winced as her feet brushed the cold floor and took her weight. Trembling from the effort, she went over to the window to look outside. Lanterns were being hung from long lines in the square as snowflakes drifted down onto the workers. She felt a smile form on her face as she half-limped and half hobbled out of the room she had woken in, and down the hall. Her child self needed to lean against the wall only twice to catch her breath, continuing with gritted teeth after each time.

“Ah! Summerstream, you're awake. I was about to bring you something to eat in case you were too sore from therapy yesterday.” A familiar voice sounded, and she looked in its direction. Sitting there at the table with a cup of tea was a large man with vibrant red hair. He spoke in Chinese as he looked at her with a warm gaze.

The words came faster than she remembered they did. “I'm a little sore, but I think it is from the cold. I saw that they were hanging lanterns outside. What are they for?”

“They're celebrating the new year tonight. Come, sit down.” The man said, gesturing to a chair with two pillows on it. Summerstream limped over to the chair before sitting down in it. She was given two balls of herbs, and a cup of warm tea. Obediently, she took the herbs first, and used the tea to help them down. After, she grimaced at the taste, and she looked at the man again. He had gotten up to fill a bowl with rice, and add some vegetables to the mixture. She recognized the 'c' shape, and tried not to lick her lips in anticipation. It was stir fried bitter melon with soy sauce.

“Can we go see it? I've never seen it!” Summerstream asked with a grin as he came back over, setting the bowl and chop sticks in front of her. After murmuring a quick thank you, she picked the chopsticks up to start eating. Her hands trembled from the effort, making it hard to grip the melon and shovel it with the rice, but she refused to have to use a spoon like she had before. She was recovering! She was able to do this!

“We shall see. You still have to work on your upper body strength. Don't think I didn't see you take those breaks!” he teased with a warm smile.

Summerstream huffed, her mouth too full to reply. The man laughed at her face and patted her on the head gently. “Oh don't make that face! I'll take you to see it. You've been working really hard these past few months.”

She swallowed and giggled. “Yaaay~” Summerstream sounded pleased. The man rubbed her on the head again, and went back to looking at the papers in front of him, and Summerstream ate in silence. She could feel the dull ache in her neck and hips fade away, and she set the empty bowl back onto the table with her chopsticks laid neatly over the rim.

The man had noticed this, and smiled. “Good. I'll bring this into the kitchen for you, and then let's start for the day. We still have a bit to go before you can walk without the crutches.” Summerstream nodded. She knew where to go; down the hall and into the second room on the right. Standing with the crutches, she made her way to the hall, before moving with the man. Out of habit, she looked into the other rooms. A young man was recovering from a sword wound, and a young lady was sound asleep. Right now, she was like them, being treated for injuries. A little more than a year ago, she was helping them too, with the man's wife. Making sure they were comfortable, that everything was okay. Occasionally there was the odd person who couldn't be helped, so she spent their last days with them, singing like the man's wife had taught her, and trying to make the time they had left comfortable.

Summerstream thought of the people she had helped as the man helped her through her exercises. She wasn't doing this just for herself. She was doing this so that she could keep helping. The man had told her that she would have a limp for the rest of her life because he found her so late. She didn't blame him for being too slow. She blamed herself for being unable to defend herself.

Late morning turned to afternoon, and she was breathing hard by the end.

“That is good for today. Now, do you want to go to your first festival?”

“Yes~” Summerstream replied enthusiastically. She was bone tired, but mention of the festival made her fatigue fade for the moment. After changing into something warm, and comfortable, the man crouched down. Summerstream pulled herself onto his shoulders, and sat there.

“Let me know if it gets too cold. You'll be in pain tomorrow if you catch a chill.”

Summerstream nodded. “Okay, Earl~” she giggled, hugging his head as they went outside. She towered over everyone, and had the best view of the festivities. Her eyes were wide, straining to take in everything.

The lanterns that were hung were lit, casting beautiful red light over the crowd. A drum beat steadily, and people handed red envelopes to each other. Some people were peeling oranges, and others were sharing fortunes. Everyone wore a smile on their face, and red on their bodies. A boy had even offered her one of the orange, and she peeled it after thanking him. The citrus taste surprised her, but it was tangy and enjoyably sweet at the same time. She never had an orange before.

The rest of the festival was lost in a blur of memories, but she knew that she enjoyed herself. When her head returned to her pillow, weariness took her consciousness swiftly. The sleep she had was comfortable, a hard day of work rewarded by the new year.

If only every night could be like this.

Summerstream blinked awake and yawned, stretching like a cat. Her neck ached faintly, reminding her of her dream. After rubbing her eyes, she put her glasses on and looked around the room. Light was shining in through the windows, light, golden rays leaving long, dark shadows on the tatami mat floor. She was alone.

“Mnnngh~” Summerstream groaned as she stretched, arching her back, feeling various joints crack. She blinked repeatedly, confused. “What time is it....?”

Her thoughts drifted back to her dream as she went to look outside. The sun was in the western sky, already about a quarter of the way from its highest point towards the horizon. She blinked, taking a moment to figure out how long she had slept for. Honestly? She had no idea, but however long she had slept for made her feel refreshed.

“Earl, shit, I wonder how you'd react to everything,” Summerstream mused as she leaned out the open window. She had a perfect view of the little village they had moved their hiding place to. “After all, I had only run away to protect your daughter. She will be turning fifteen this year/” She folded her arms on the still and rested her chin on her arms, and closed her eyes. The wind played with the leaves of the trees, rustling both the leaves, and catching her bangs. She could hear the whispers among them.

“Why did a human like you take me in, Earl? Why would you risk your life and family just to make sure I survived?” Summerstream whispered. She focused hard on her memories, scrambled from years of sleep deprivation. The only clear memory that ever hinted at anything, was the picture of her parents, Earl, and his wife each holding a beautiful, white flower. She had asked if she could keep the picture.

The name of this flower was forgotten, but she knew it was important that she did not forget it. She put her forehead on the still to try to recall the name, then sighed in vain. She looked towards the journal that was open on her desk. Summerstream flipped to the beginning of it, and took out the old image.

“Mama, Dad, Earl and Emmy.” Summerstream tapped the image as she said the names, but she did not remember the name of the flower. Her mother had just been starting to show, and she blinked. “Is that me making her stomach large?” She furrowed her brows again.

Why was the name of this flower so important?

Her whispers, meanwhile, remained unanswered. They had blended in perfectly with the wind rustling the leaves in the trees.