Through the Eyes of a Fae
Chapter 4

Two weeks had passed since they found the woman in the ruins. Ben had not left her side for even a second. She cried for what felt like forever, and then was silent. She would not sleep. She seemed afraid to close her eyes. Other than her initial question, she had not said a word. They had since returned to their outpost and after several attempts to question her, she huddled up in a ball and buried her face in her knees. Ben forbade anyone to enter her tent after that. He was so protective of her, and no one could understand why. Ludis assumed it was some connection he may have felt from the vision, but Stella thought it was something more. She had grown up with Ben. He was not a bad-looking man at all, and women often fawned over him. He never really seemed interested, though. She even had a crush on him, back when he was a squire. Stella had never seen him act so with a woman. Stella and Ludis sat down at a table, scrolls and textbooks piled high, having arrived from the capitol at the king’s request. He wanted a more detailed history of the castle. They needed to know who this woman was. Is she one of the enemies? A threat? Where did she even come from, how was she turned to stone? And why? So many questions and no answers. Malik was surprised when they came back, the woman cradled in his best friend’s lap like a lost child. Ben’s behavior was even more of a shock to him, and whispers were going around already that she bewitched him somehow. But while the woman did not refuse Ben, she did not seem to want to be touched or acknowledged by anyone. In fact, she would not eat and refused all drink. After much pestering-Ben had barely gotten her to eat a few bites of bread and drink a few sips of water. It was as if she wanted to go back to nothingness. Stella shuddered. How long had she been a statue?

There was a gentle knock on the top of the tent and Ludis, distracted by the text in front of her, mumbled a soft “enter” not aware of what she was saying. Ben came in and they both looked up in surprise.

" The woman…she asked for a bath. But she is still fragile and needs some help…” Ben looked pleading. He was clearly happy that the woman had requested something, and uncomfortable that it was something that he could not do. Stella smiled and looked at Ludis, who nodded.

" You do not trust any of the maidservants?” It was not a question that really needed answering but Ludis asked anyway.

“She’s still in shock. I think since she’s already been around you two... it would be easier for her.” Ben waited.

" Ben, of course we will help her. She truly seems shaken, and I cannot blame her. Has she said anything else?” Stella stood up and began to dig in a trunk, pulling a brush, soap, washrags, and a drying cloth. Ben shook his head. Ludis stood up as well and began to pick through her clothing.

“She is definitely not as curvy as you, Stella, but she does have more going for her than I do in some...areas. I can try to give her some breathing room in a few of these while she bathes.” Ludis tossed a small pile of clothes and her sewing kit onto the table, and they both turned to look at Ben, who huffed a sigh of relief.

“I’m going to try and get her something to eat. Thank you.” Ben left and was shortly followed by the two women, who headed for the woman’s tent.

Stella gently rapped on the top of the tent before entering. The woman sat on the edge of her cot, staring at a large wooden basin that seemed to have been dragged in by Ben and filled with water. Touching the water, Ludis realized it had already gone cold.

“We will have to boil some more water, no sense wasting energy to heat it with magic.” Ludis turned to leave again, and the woman stopped her.

“I…can heat it. I just need some help. I am still stiff and weak. Ludis smiled gently at her as Stella began to lay out the supplies she had brought.

“It probably isn’t a good idea for you to try to heat it in your condition, either, since you are still weak.” Stella did not want her to faint or anything while they were there. Ben would not let them near her again. The woman smiled, albeit a small one. The tub moved like someone had dropped a small stone in it, and suddenly steam began to rise from the water. Both Ludis and Stella gasped in surprise.

“How did you do that? With no spell and no movement!” Ludis was blown, her academic mind immediately taking over. Stella, too, was shocked, but more so that it seemed to have not cost the woman any effort to complete the task, though it was clear she could not even stand on her own. Deciding to keep silent, she gently bumped Ludis with her hip and reached forward to offer the woman her hands.

“Let’s get you in there before it gets cold again.” The poor woman was stiffer than she realized. It looked to Stella like she moved as the wooden dolls she had as a child did. The hot water would help. Ludis undid the back of her dress and as she did, the laces almost fell apart. The dress was clearly old, and no longer stone, age had set in. It was falling apart.

“Good thing we brought clothes,” Ludis helped her step into the tub, and the woman sighed so loudly it made Stella giggle. Again, there was that small smile.

“It’s been a long time.” The woman shrugged woodenly, and Ludis laughed aloud.

“I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have laughed; it was just the dark humor in your joke.” Ludis covered her mouth, ashamed almost immediately. The woman smiled wider and nodded her agreement. Stella went for it. As she leaned forward and began to dump warm water over the woman’s hair, she asked casually, “What is your name? Ben will be thrilled you have said so many words. It would help to know who you are so that we may help you replace your family.” The woman’s face grew dark, pained.

“Everyone I know, and love is dead.” Silence. Stella began washing the woman’s hair as she brooded, and Ludis began altering the clothes. It took quite a bit of rinsing, but Stella managed to get all the dust out of the poor woman’s hair. She really was beautiful. It was like her body was crafted by an artist. Her hair gleamed with dark and light brown, golden blonde. Her eyes pulled you in. The greenest Stella had ever seen. Her skin was soft and smooth, a pale cream like Ludis but with a tan glow to it. Ludis turned her hands over and saw a few callouses.

So, Stella thought. She was not a stranger to work. Or a weapon. Her hands alone told her this woman could wield a blade, draw a bow, and ride a horse.

“Koraline.” The woman suddenly said. “My name is Koraline- but I prefer Kora.” Stella and Ludis looked at each other over the woman’s head, and Stella tried again.

“It’s nice to make your acquaintance, Kora. My name is Estella. Everyone calls me Stella, though. This is Ludis, she is my teacher, and head mage of Deidre.”

“Do you remember how you turned to stone? Or how long have you been a statue?” Ludis asked, hoping she had not pushed her too far. The woman stood on her own and Stella handed her two drying clothes. One for her long hair, just passed her bottom, and one for her body. Kora wrapped herself up and began to dry her hair. When she did not speak, Stella and Ludis assumed she was done divulging information about herself. Stella turned to the table where Ludis had laid out the clothes, she was grabbing the hairbrush when Kora spoke again.

“I was turned into a statue on the 10th day of Aster - the year 512 BOE - as you would call it now. (Before Old Empire - AOE After Old Empire) I... was 25 years old then.” Stella dropped the hairbrush and quickly looked at Ludis, who was just as shocked. This woman was 1525 years old. Kora had been a statue for 1,500 years.