The Last Dance (14)

Hello! Sorry for the long wait, I've been writing like mad lately but it's been all over the place and I have bits and pieces for the next few chapters but they still need to be worked. Anyhow I hope this is worth the wait =)

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xo.

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Chapter 14 - Trapped

John was already awake and sitting up when I opened my eyes. He was blinking sleepily and running a hand through his hair. When he saw me awake he brought a finger to his lips and jerked his head to the men. I followed his gaze and saw that everyone was huddled in a tight circle speaking frantically. I rubbed my eyes to wake up more fully and squinted trying to figure out what was going on. I could only make out Caleb's expression, and it was one of concern. His brow was furrowed and he nodded tersely in response to something. I turned back to John and cocked an eyebrow. He shrugged and jumped up, then put a hand out for me. I regarded his hand in mild surprise; whatever we were to each other now, it seemed to involve being more polite. Well, that was unacceptable. He got points for being sweet I suppose, but if he thought things could change just like that, well he had another thing coming. I enjoyed our bickering too much to just give it up. No, I had no intention of becoming the kind of acquaintances that acted distant and polite towards each other.

Please.

What fun was that?

I hid a smile so he wouldn't catch on and took his hand. He started to pull me up but instead I yanked his hand down hard, using the momentum to lift myself up. Not expecting the trick he tripped forward and ended up on the ground and I had to cover my mouth to keep from laughing. He looked up at me with shock written all over his face and seemed to be wondering how he ended up on the ground. I couldn't hold it in any longer and bent over giggling uncontrollably, his expression was just so priceless.

The John I knew would have gotten angry, thrown some kind of tantrum, or crossed his arms stubbornly waiting for an apology. He would not be content with rolling his eyes at me, especially with a smile tugging up the corners of his lips, and if I wasn't seeing it with my own eyes I'd never believe it. I guess last night had been a changing point for us, to what I don't exactly know, friends maybe? Humph, well I suppose I could live with that. So long as it wasn't anything formal. And knowing John... I mentally rolled my eyes and half smiled. He either would be overly polite or too much of a jerk. I wonder if he could manage a middle ground. Well, at least I'd broken the ice on this polite business.

Not happening.

While I was thinking John had gotten up again, and our commotion had drawn the attention of the men. Most only spared us a moment's glance while Brice and Rory looked on knowingly; even Caleb had a slight smile on his face. I was about to turn to John and ask why they were giving us such funny looks when Caleb extracted himself from the group and started heading over. The rest went back to their urgent discussions and I hoped Caleb was coming to fill us in on what was going on. Clearly, we'd missed something big while we were asleep.

"What's going on Caleb?" I unconsciously shifted to put myself between Caleb and John. It was becoming a reflex protecting him.

"We got some bad news a few hours ago." He looked both weary and stressed, as if it had been a long night, and I felt bad for having been asleep through it, though it couldn't be much later than six in the morning.

He sighed heavily "There was a forest fire started last night, and still seems to be going strong. It should not a been a problem bu' the wind changed an tis burning out a company out here, some friends 'o ours I might be adding, terrible thing" He shook his head sadly and I put a hand on his shoulder reassuringly.

"I'm so sorry, was anyone hurt? Is there anything we can do?"

He smiled faintly. "That's awful kind of you Miss Celia, seems Rory spoke true 'bout you, but I'm sure ye be needing ta get the Prince back home."

"Well, we've already been gone so long, what's another day?"

Caleb hesitated and seemed about to refuse our help when John cut in. "Cece's right, we insist," he said firmly. I turned slightly and smiled faintly at him, nodding in approval. He seemed genuinely concerned, which might actually be a first for him.

Caleb looked at us thoughtfully then slowly smiled. "Alright, we'll take your help then, and much appreciated it is." He clasped John's forearm warmly and went to deliver the news to the others.

"Well, well, an actual show of compassion My Prince? Surely this is one for the royal archives," I teased.

He grinned back; "That's John to you."

***

Everyone was ready to set out within a matter of minutes and we were on our way. No one bothered to blindfold us and I took that to mean we had managed to gain their trust, or at least respect. After an hour's walk we began noticing a smattering of ashes littering the ground, and some blackened branches.

John and I exchanged a grimace while the men looked around worriedly. As we continued the air got heavier and the smell of sulpher grew stronger. After another hour the men stopped to discuss something.

Brice made his way over to us with a bundle of rags.

"Alright youngin's now things get tricky. Take these cloths to the river and soak um well, then tie 'em around yer mouth an nose ter keep the smoke out."

We nodded our understanding and headed to the river. The smell of wood burning was strong in the air, and we hadn't even gotten close to the flames. We soaked the cloths and wrung them out, then tied a pair around our mouths like we'd been told. We took the others to the men and they did the same.

The packs were left by a copse of trees and only essentials were taken with us. On Brice's instruction we all waded through the river to soak our clothes, apparently it would give us a temporary relief from the heat of the fire. I did what I was told anxiously. Suddenly the enormity of what we were doing hit me. This was dangerous and risky. There was no opponent here to beat, nothing that would bleed with a sword or could be out maneuvered. We were up against the elements here and I lacked my usual confidence.

Having prepared as much as we could, we made our way into the trees. I took deep breaths to calm myself down until I felt a reassuring squeeze to my shoulder. I looked up to see John walking next to me with a grim look on his face.

"Stay close to me, I'll keep you safe." I was baffled at how calm he was, while I was almost shaking with fear. I nodded and inched closer, feeling more secure already. It should have seemed ironic that the tables could turn so completely and I now needed the protection, but in this case I was glad for it.

***

After a few more minutes of marching we started hearing noises and could see smoke curling up from the trees in blinding swirls. As we drew closer the noises became more distinct and I could hear orders being shouted and children crying. I pang of horror run through me as I realized this was a full company, there were women and children at risk here too, and my knees started to tremble.

We marched past a line of trees and I froze. Frazzled women ran helplessly about clutching at their children. Old men were being carried out of harm's way and older children grimly worked alongside the adults. Anyone unable to help was taken to the other side of the river where some possessions seemed to have survived. Everyone had charred garments and was covered in ashes. I was startled to see that some women deposited their kids on the shore and headed back into the chaos. Some men tried to keep order and check who was accounted for.

My gaze moved beyond the scene before me and I swallowed to keep the bile from rising in my throat. Orange flames licked the trunks of trees and devoured everything in sight. There were people on fire. I started shaking, surprised I could still hold up my own weight. My senses suddenly flared to life and everything came in high resolution. People dropped to the floor trying to put out the flames while others crawled out choking on the fumes. Many staggered out and collapsed only to be picked up or dragged away. My eyes burned from the ashes and went immediately dry. And the smell, it was of burning flesh. The sight made me sick and yet I could not tear my eyes away. They were riveted on this gruesome sight of blackened skin and singed hair and clothes. I ran to a tree and dry heaved feeling sick.

My stomach contracted painfully and I stood there shaking. I felt another squeeze on my shoulder and looked up with tears in my eyes from the smoke. John was still beside me radiating calm though I could see the sorrow in his eyes. His skin looked clammy and pale, and there was the hint of a haunted look in his eyes but otherwise he seemed fine.

He hadn't broken down like I had.

He waited by me patiently while the feeling ebbed away and I regained control over myself.

"Are you okay?" He asked gently.

I nodded tersely. "I'm fine... it just... took me by surprise."

"Aye, seein' a fire the first time is a nightmare it is. You'll be fine lass, just breathe." Brice had walked up to us covered in soot and ash.

"Where is everyone?" I looked around noticing we were the only one left of our party.

"They be down river tryin' to contain the flames, ye ready to join them?"

John looked towards me to give the answer and I nodded with a jerk of the head. We walked downriver and I kept my eyes away from the scene I knew lay on my left. John noticed and moved to stand beside me so that he blocked the view and I gratefully offered him a weak smile. We reached the other men and were handed buckets. There was some kind of system in place and we found ourselves in the middle of it. We frantically filled buckets and passed them down the line as more came back empty. The clothes we'd wet earlier were dry and scratched our even drier skin. My eyes burned from the smoke but we didn't even have the worst of it, being downwind. My actions were automatic and I took reassurance from the steady movement. As my hands worked on their own I began noticing the sounds around me again. Some of the madness seemed to have died down as even more people made it to the other bank safely.

And then I heard it, a wailing off to my left. Coming from the fire we were so diligently trying to contain. I looked around me but no one seemed to have noticed the sound. Was there a child stuck in there?

Without thinking I ran in the direction of the noise hoping I had only imagined it. I dimly heard someone calling my name but didn't slow down. I raced through the trees as the crying became louder. I hadn't imagined it. Trees whipped past me scratching my skin and ripping my clothes, but I didn't care, nothing mattered to me at the moment but finding the poor child who was alone and helpless. I ran on following the sound and finally burst into a clearing. The flames formed a wall on the other side of the clearing and the only reason they hadn't closed into the middle was because of the lack of foliage to burn. I ran to the center were a little girl was standing looking frightened. She held a baby in her arms and was turning in circles in apparent confusion while the baby cried on.

I ran and knelt before her and her eyes lit up in hope. "I lost mommy." Her voice didn't betray even the hint of a quiver; she sounded like she was merely stating a fact. There was no fear in her eyes either, only an edge of determination and I felt ashamed that the fire had rendered me so helpless earlier while she stood strong.

"We'll find her sweetie." The child nodded at me, without any doubt that I would find her mother. A crash had me whirling around in time to see Brice fall through the trees.

"Dammit lass, if yer going ta run off ye tell someone." He said angry.

His gaze moved past me to see the children and he gaped. Without another word he ran forward and scooped them into his arms jerking his head to motion for me to follow him. He sprinted forward into the trees and I stumbled forward trying to follow but I was too slow. A branch dropped inches from my feet and I jumped back from the blaze of heat that washed over me.

Frightened I stumbled blindly back and looked around me for an escape. My heartbeat quickened to an erratic pace and my breathing got heavy.

I looked around in panic for another opening. Seeing one, I ran to the right only to be cut off again.

Panic started to overwhelm me as I realized I was alone. Everywhere I looked was only fire, columns of it surrounding me. The circle of trees around me was ignited and I was stuck in the middle. I was trapped and the flames felt like they were closing in around me.

I felt dizzy, I felt like I couldn't breathe.

My head pounded and spots began appearing before me. It was coming closer, I could feel it. I was trapped. I was trapped. My fear consumed me. I wasn't safe anymore. I was trapped. No one even knew I was here did they? Only Brice knew and he was gone.

I was alone.

Trapped.

The spots before my eyes got bigger and I struggled to stay conscious. I fell to my knees, the smoke was thick around me and I vaguely remembered being told to stay low when there was smoke. Somewhere along the way I had lost my mask and now fought to breathe, fought to stay calm. I knew it was a losing battle. I was trapped and alone. The roaring din of the fire sounded all around me, drowning out all my sense and leaving only fear behind.

Trapped.

Overwhelmed I closed my eyes, only to see flames reaching up behind my eyelids. My eyes flew open and I whimpered in fear and felt tears coursing down my cheeks. I was surrounded.

Trapped.

"Celia? CELIA?"

My mind dimly registered a panicked voice from somewhere, but no, I must be hallucinating. I was alone.

My eyelids felt heavy, my limbs felt like lead. I couldn't move. I didn't want to move. And it was warm here, so warm. I felt sleepy and suddenly peaceful.

"Celia! CELIA!"

The voice seemed louder and more urgent.

Who was making so much noise? I was tired. Couldn't they let me sleep?

Shadows danced before my eyes inviting me to sleep. I would. I wanted to. My body relaxed, I could hardly keep my eyes open.

"Celia please, where are you?" Someone yelled.

I felt a pang in my chest. I was hurting someone. They sounded sad. I wanted to raise my head to say something, but I couldn't find the strength. My throat was raw and dry and no sound could be forced from it.

And anyway, I was trapped, they couldn't get to me.

"Celia?"

The flames rose higher and higher behind my eyelids. They beckoned to me, reaching forward to nip my skin, caressing, burning, inviting. They whispered to me, hissing, steaming, and sputtering.

A dark break formed in the line of flames but I hadn't the strength to move towards it, it was too late.

I could only hear the roar of the fire burning higher, consuming, destroying. I felt it, scorching, burning, melting.

I was just so tired... I blinked once... twice...... and let the blackness embrace me in its warmth.