In the humble cottage where Aron had grown up, he lay trembling on parlor floor, his body twitching with restless spasms. His eyes were shut closed but he was livelier than when he was awake.
His sister and mother sat by his side, cleaning his sweat slicked skin with rags dipped in warm water.
Yelena smiled faintly as she wiped his forehead. "He's so much older now."
"Yes." their mother concurred. "It would have been nice to watch him grow."
A long silence followed.
Suddenly Aron's eyes burst open, and he gasped franticly. Clutching the air like a drowning man. His heart beating like drums.
"Oh my!" His mother cried, startled.
His eyes-wild like a beast-darted to her, frantic and unseeing, until recognition softened his features. The panic faded, but was quickly replaced by something darker and heavy. The fog in his mind had cleared.
He remembered where he was and why he was there.
"Hello Aron," Yelena said gently, waving shortly at him.
He slowly turned to her.
"Hello." He replied flatly. Then, without another word, he pulled himself up and walked stiffly to an old wooden chair by the window.
"No…wait!" His mother exclaimed, reaching her hand out.
He looked down. The bandage around his severed hand had come loose. Shame flickered across his face as he turned away.
"Sorry," he mumbled.
"It's alright," his mother said, softly. "Yelena, apply the herbs to it. I'll go check the food in the kitchen."
She disappeared into the kitchen as Yelena knelt beside him with a bowl of pungent green paste. The scent of healing leaves mixed with the distant aroma of simmering spices.
Aron sat silent, looking through the parlor window. His breathing low and steady.
Yelena carefully applied the green paste on his stub, he did not fidget or flinch. Her expression grew worrisome. "Are you awake?" she asked quietly.
"Yes."
"Okay." She continued to apply the paste. But her thoughts would not let her rest. Her brow furrowed, with a huff of frustration, she dropped the bowl. Spilling its contents.
"Is something wrong?" He asked, still facing the window, but eyeing her from his side.
She folded her arms, and bit her lip. "Don't you even care?"
Aron turned to her for the first time. His expression plain and unmoved by her burst of emotion. "Care about what?"
She stood, folding her arms tightly. "You haven't seen me in over five years and you can't even look me at me properly?" she asked.
He forced the sides of his mouth into a smile. "How are you, Yelena?"
She hissed, gesturing her hands in the air. "There's no point if I have to ask you to do it."
Aron rolled his eyes, "then why did you say anything in the first place?"
She scoffed. "Because you needed to know you were being rude."
"I almost died Yelena, how am I…" He paused and clenched his fist, exhaling deeply. "I need some time alone, to rest."
"I understand. I'm sorry for being a nuisance." She stepped away and left for the kitchen.
He returned to looking through the window, giving no thought to her remark. His voice a whisper. "I have to find a way to save both kindrea, Seraphina and myself."
He closed his eyes.
"General Brask said to tell, King Edward "I will destroy kindrea", but if I did so everyone would know I was the messenger." He thought to himself.
"But, if I remain hidden then I could easily take Seraphina, without jeopardizing my image." His eyes opened, the expression in them, somber and dark. "I never thought I would be using her in such a way, she'll hate me for this."
"No it's for the best," he shrugged his head, "how can we be together if I'm dead. She'd never recover if she lost me."
"I have to hide my identity when I take her. I doubt she'll understand." He thumped his index repeatedly on his forehead. "But how can I take her, with all the guards roaming the castle. I'll easily be seen. My best bet is luring her out as Aron, I have only two days after all."
"And when the Talorans take Kindrea, I can run away with her, without anyone knowing." He smirked.
"Run away? No that's not good enough. I know!" He pointed his finger to the ceiling.
"I'll lure her out as Aron, then wear a mask to kidnap her. Then when the time is right I can swoop in as Aron and save her." His eyes gleamed with joy. "All of Kindrea, will celebrate me as a hero." He covered his mouth with his palm, trying to hold in his laughter.
"Wait!" Aron slammed his fist on the chairs arm rest. "Victor! How could I have forgotten about him?" He rubbed his fingers against his temple. "He knows I delivered the message, and that I've been courting Seraphina, It won't take long for him to realize I took her. After all he knows I'm not dead, since the whole kingdom is looking for me."
He sighed deeply, a smile ran across his face, almost letting out cackle. "I just have to kill him first."
"Today I kill Victor. Tomorrow I take Seraphina."
A gust of wind blew in from the window, he shut his eyes to avoid the dust.
As he opened them he was greeted by his own shadow looming over him. It stretched from his feet all the way to the ceiling. An eerily smile ran across its face.
"Don't be stupid, Aron." A low and deep voice echoed inside his head. He was not alone.
"Damn it!" Aron hissed, frowning and shaking his head.
"Aron?" His mother called out, from across the room.
He arranged himself, garnering a calmer persona, "Yes mother." He smiled.
She tilted her head, scared and worried. "Is everything alright? You've been mumbling to yourself for a while now."
He chuckled awkwardly, scratching his head, "Just some pondering, Mother."
She still looked distressed from his appearance and tone, but shrugged her head, not thinking much of it. "Shall I bring you some food?" She asked him.
Her kindness stung. His heart warmed up, and he smiled despite himself. "Yes, please."
His heart fell heavy, he clenched his fist, and looked through the window and towards the walls of kindrea, the warm breeze pushed by the wheat stalks zipping pass his face. "I don't care what happens to kindrea, but I will protect the one's I love."