Althea Dewar eased herself out of her bed that night with a light groan, rubbing her eyes.
It was strange. Almost as if things were getting easier as she got older. There was still that nagging ache, of course, but it no longer seemed to be affecting her as it had when she was younger.
That night, she was barely asleep before being jerked awake by an urgent chill that circled around her, leaving her breathless.
She did not like to think of this place, the hidden place where her mother had hidden her so many years ago. The place where she had been held as a child and later as a teenager, as a possible hostage for the Red Witch.
And yet, here she was, about to once again be parted from her mother and her family.
Her mother's face appeared in her mind, and although she had not been there for years, she knew intuitively that her mother was sad to be leaving her. And with that thought came the realization that her family would not know where she had been taken. She would miss them dearly, but she would not reveal their hiding place just to have them worry.
Althea inhaled deeply, realizing that she was almost used to being a Red Witch. Almost.
In the city, Nova gritted her teeth as her mother was dragged away, throwing her a terrified look. She would not let her mother go alone. She had always followed her path. But now she hesitated. For the first time ever, she felt unsure.
Nova's heart raced as she watched the two sisters be led away. No... not sisters. Mother and daughter. And she had just called her mother the Red Witch. As far as the older sister knew, there was no one else who knew the truth. Which meant that she was the Rhapsody.
The cloaked figure tore the hood away and looked out over the square. She had waited long enough and she would soon be rid of this torment.
She took a deep breath, the cold air cutting through the air. She could feel the fear wafting around her, but she was confident that her old friend would rescue her.
Nova hated to be separated from her mother. She had always been able to read Nova's thoughts and after a few tense and uncertain moments, she had no problem gauging her response.
The old man came to a stop, eyeing the guards with caution. He had rushed across the city on the assumption that he would be able to mount a rescue, but that was going to have to wait. They were to be taken to the clearing and the execution would happen soon.
Was anyone seeing this? He felt that someone was still out there, catching up and watching, not wishing to interfere. He only hoped that this one was able to help.
Althea had nearly passed out as she slid in the back of the wagon, having to hold tightly to her mother's wrist as the guards tossed her in as well. Her mother had held her steady as they were dragged off, whispering reassurances into her ear, but now, so close to the execution, she felt so helpless to protect her.
The heat of her mother's hand was icy cold, and Althea could feel her mother's fingers digging into her shoulder as they were thrown roughly into the wagon. Her mother would never give up on her and she would continue to struggle until the end.
The cloaked figure turned a circle, her cloak billowing back across the ground with that last breath of wind, covering her feet and legs. This was the moment.
The executioners waved their arms, signaling to the two guards and the two were led forward. The cloaked figure sat back, and watched as the two raised their swords. The executioners were chanting in Elven, and this one looked down at her with eyes of fire.
Nova did not need to see it. All she had to do was know.
Althea's mother was released, allowing the two guards to drag her forward. She stared up at Nova in an exhausted whisper, begging her in a desperate hope to please not leave her. They had been apart for so long, would they ever be together again?
Nova's hands shook as she stretched her body back out of her own seat and stood, struggling to swing her feet out over the ground, pushing herself out of the wagon and then turning to face her mother.
The cloaked figure rose up as if to stand, her arms spread wide.
"NO!" she screamed and the cloaked figure screamed with her, covering her ears as a booming voice echoed around the entire square.
"No!" she yelled again, louder and the cloaked figure cried out again, this time falling to her knees. The cloaked figure only stared at her, confused and then Castaway appeared.
"Rhapsody!" she yelled, noticing the figure with the hood. This had to be it. The Rhapsody. She rushed forward and yelled for the others to go get everyone.
Rescuing the Rhapsody was easier said than done with the village in chaos. There were guards everywhere and much to get done once the confusion was over.
Althea had just come to after she lumbered out of the wagon, pulling herself up as the men began to run around, getting the soldiers and following them would have to be her first priority.
She fell to her knees, only vaguely hearing the shouting, arms aching and shaking as she struggled to hold herself up.
No, she thought, why wouldn't she wake up. She had felt that she was going to leave, but she felt so peaceful, so warm and her breathing was deep and slow.