Chapter 20 - Fairies

Hannah walked to him, where he stood by the window in their bedroom, no sword by his side, his hair not in a band. Just her Jasper,.

Oh, Good God~ Her Jasper.

His back turned to her, and she walked toward him and wrapped her arms around him, her cheek pressed to his back. His scent was that of cedar and pine, and she let them fill her senses. Jasper. Hannah’s Jasper.

She knew he had been upset about sabryinth being able to pull her in, just like that. She also knew the helplessness he must have felt from her recounting her story. It was one she felt from time to time when she thought too much about their situation.

But if Martha was right, and Hannah didn't doubt that her grandmother was right, then there was nothing to fear. Now, she needed to make sure that was enough for him.

"I'm here, Jasper." She whispered, when no other words were capable of being formed. He turned around after some time and wrapped his arms around her, tight.

"I know." He said and let out a deep breath. And then he held on. He didn't understand himself, she was safe. But here he was, silently raging against a magical Doe for being able to pull her into a dream state, for wanting to be a friend to his beloved.

"I want to keep you safe," he finally said. Perhaps voicing his thoughts would help him sort through them.

"I don't want anything to happen to you. I don't like the thought of you being pulled in like that, of you being harmed through that. But I must trust, but trust is so hard, Hannah. Trust is so hard."

She could have told him that his fears were irrational, that all he needed was some complete faith she knew he was struggling to have, she was struggling to have as well. But she had heard the sorrow and turmoil in his voice, and she put herself where he stood. And for a suffocating moment she let the tables be turned. And she knew, she knew, for if he were the one demons were after, if he were to be the one being pulled into dreams, defenseless as to what harm could be done to him, trust would be so hard for her as well.

So she held on tighter.

"I'm here, Jasper. I'm here." She whispered against his beating heart. An that was her truth.

°°°°

"Blood, so much blood. The stench of it pierces the air."

"Grandmother..." Hannah reached out to hold her grandmother, to guide her to the chair. She had been holding a water jug and dropped it as soon as Hannah walked into the living room with Jasper. The shards lay scattered and forgotten on the ground and worry was written on both Jasper and Hannah's countenances.

"This journey, one that seeks answers, one that has yielded bonds now seems to come to close. And where hearts have united will be the light shining through the dark, bringing home. This surrender will bring the end of servitude.go home. The evil one lies in wait, staying close, one to the other. Go home, find your way. Precious bright lights, be the way." Martha's pallor had grown ashen and Hannah held onto both her hands to give warmth, for her hands had grown cold as ice, cold to touch.

"You must find a safe harbour, my child. You must run to the safe refuge. The God of new beginnings. The God of happy endings." She said, her clouded eyes on Hannah, and then she turned to look at Jasper who stood before her.

"Take the one you love, keep safe. You've been entrusted with treasures, Do thou cherish." Jasper crouched down before her, and ran his hand down her cheek.

"Wake up, Martha." He said tenderly. He had not intended for anything to happen, but at his words the cloudiness of her eyes dissipated, leaving in their wake a mist and then it was all gone. And then the visions were all gone. It was just once more, the three of them. The older woman dropped her head lifelessly to the top of the chair, and let out a deep breath.

"A fairy blood." She said, and she fell into the abyss that beckoned her, come.

°°°°

Martha woke up, groggy and disoriented and could barely make out the words floating around her.

"I think she's coming around." Hannah said, but her Granddaughter’s voice sounded so far away.

"Aye, i see her eyes twitch." She heard Jasper say. Martha wanted to smile and tell them not to worry so much, to lighten the weight of the moment. But the heaviness bore down on her and she would have screamed from the terror of it, had she had the strength to do so. A wet clothe came to her head, and the hand that held hers squeezed gently, by the roughness of it she could tell it was Jasper's. The man was a sweetheart, and she struggled against all the heaviness that enveloped her to squeeze back.

"There you are now, Martha. Come back to us." Her heart broke at the grief she heard in his voice.

"Oh Martha..." Hannah's voice cracked, and so did Martha's heart.

Her precious Hannah. What was wrong with her? Why couldn't she wake? Why this heaviness? But she had no answer and slumber took her once more before she could ponder for one.

~~~

Hannah ran the wet clothe over Martha's forehead and then her neck, and thought the fever That came and took hold of her grandmother was leaving her body as fast as it had come upon her.

"She's asleep now." Hannah said wearily, looking over Martha's restful frame.

"Yes, I suppose she is." Jasper ran a hand behind his neck and walked to the other side of the bed where Hannah sat. He took the wet cloth from her and placed it on the nightstand, bringing her up with his hand. And then wrapped his arms around her.

She sighed, how was it that the man knew just what she needed, when she needed it?"

"Come down with me, let's go make her something, for when she wakes." He whispered into her ear. Hannah didn’t want to leave, but she thought it was what they both needed at that time. that and it was a way to be doing something with her hands, anything to keep the nerves locked away, to keep them from swallowing her up.

"Okay." She whispered back. She pulled away from him, and with a hand placed in his, turned around and leaned toward Martha and placed a kiss on her cheek. She took the wet cloth from the night stand and with a last glance backward, let Jasper lead her.