This story is set in France 124 B.C.E. My history's not as good as it should be so please excuse any horrible historical mistakes. If they're really bad, e-mail me and I'll try to revise it. Comments are always welcome, flames will be used to fuel the creative fires. If you want to archive this, e-mail me.
France, 124 B.C.E.
"Maman!" A young woman carrying a basket filled with flowers ran up the path leading to the back door of the small castle. She was petite, just barely 5 feet tall and slender. Long, wavy hair flying out behind her was so black the sun brought out blue highlights and eyes the color of fresh blueberries shone in excitement for today was her 17th birthday.
"Asher! There you are girl. Get inside and clean up. We're going to eat as soon as your brother gets back. I sent him to find you." Her mother, Emile, had frosty blond hair that was just beginning to show gray.
"Yes, maman." Asher kissed her mother on the cheek and handed her the flowers before she ran up the stairs to her room. Her maid, Elle, was waiting with water and a comb and her younger sister was sewing by the window.
"Where have you been, Asher? Maman had Phillipe looking everywhere for you. I told him you were in the glen picking flowers but he didn't believe me." Colette was 10 but had a savvy intelligence beyond her years. Like Asher, she would often know where lost items were or when things were going to happen before they happened. Her brother, Phillipe, who was 14, thought they were only silly girls who couldn't know anything.
"I was in the glen. He never showed up." Asher stood impatiently as Elle washed her and dressed her in a fresh crisp undertunic. Her hair was combed and braided so that two long braids hung down her back.
"Here, Ash. Happy birthday." Colette handed her a folded piece of blue material. She let it unfold to reveal a new stola, made from bright blue cotton to match her eyes. The edge was embroidered in a delicate pattern of wild flowers. Emile had made the dress from the finest cotton they had available.
Asher smiled and hugged her sister. "Cole, did you do the flowers?" Colette nodded proudly. "They're beautiful. Thank you. I'll wear it proudly." Elle dressed her, wrapping the fold of the material around her body.
"Girls, time to eat!" Their mother called up the stairs.
Colette grabbed her sister's hand and pulled her down the stairs. Emile and Phillipe were already seated at the table.
"Thank you, maman." Asher placed a kiss on her mother's forehead and took her own seat.
"You're very welcome. You're father said he would be home for supper. He had to go to the village this morning." She dished out a bowl of rich vegetable stew for each of her children and they settled down to lunch.
After lunch, Asher and Colette went for a walk. They wandered through the forest talking.
"Maman and papa will expect me to be married now." Asher sighed.
"Is there no one who holds your eye?" Colette asked. She bent and picked two branches of wild berries and offered one to Asher.
She took the offered berries. "There is Lucas." Lucas was the son of the merchant in the village 14 miles south of Asher's home.
Colette made a face. "He's ugly."
"He's not ugly." Asher exclaimed. "Well, not too ugly. But its not as if I have lot's of choices. Papa won't let me marry a farmer's son."
Colette nodded. Both girls knew well their family's place in society. Their father was a Senator who represented their area, what is now known as the Loire region, France, in the Roman Empire. "What if . . ." She trailed off.
"What?"
"Well, maybe you won't have to marry Lucas."
"Colette, who else would I marry?"
She threw her arms up. "I don't know. I don't think it'll be Lucas, that's all I'm saying."
"Let's go back." Asher said suddenly. She had a feeling something was wrong.
Colette looked at her sister and shrugged. "Okay."
They walked back the house in silence and Asher ran inside. When she saw nothing out of the ordinary, she took a deep breath and sat down in her favorite chair in the salon. Her sewing was sitting in a basket by her feet and she picked up a sampler she was working on. She, Colette and Emile sat in the cozy salon and sewed for the rest of the afternoon.
Asher's father, Luc had arrived home from the village that afternoon and supper was a happy meal. He was a huge man with golden blond hair and sparkling green eyes.
"Happy birthday, little fleur." Luc smiled as his daughter hugged him tightly.
"Hello, papa. Thank you, papa."
He kissed the top of her head, laughing. "You like the dress? Good. I've brought you another gift." He handed her a small package.
"May I open it?" At his nod, she tore into the fabric wrapping. It fell to the table revealing a thin band of silver wrought with elegant Celtic knots. "Thank you, papa. It's beautiful."
He took the bracelet from her and put it on her left wrist. "It means eternal life. If you wear it always on your left wrist, you will live a long life."
"I'll never take it off." She hugged him again.
"Take your seat so we can eat before your mother's wonderful meal becomes cold."
At the end of the meal, Emile brought out a plate of cakes she had baked earlier in the day. When the cakes were gone, they retired to the salon for an evening's relaxation. The women sewed, while Luc regaled them with the latest news in the village and Phillipe worked on a wooden carving.
The feeling of foreboding came over Asher again and she found herself restless.
"Asher, what's wrong, dear?" Her mother looked up from her sewing.
"Nothing, maman. I just have this feeling like something bad is going to happen."
Phillipe laughed. "Nothing's going to happen. You're safe here. Papa and I will protect you."
Asher and Colette glared at their brother. "We don't need you to protect us."
Their mother laughed softly. "Well, my little warriors, its time for bed. Off with you now."
They put away what they were working on and kissed their parents good night. Asher and Colette went to their bedroom upstairs and Philippe went to his bedroom on the ground floor. The girls changed into their nightdresses and let Elle brush their hair. When Asher tucking Colette into bed, she spoke up.
"What did you mean before Ash?"
"When? In the salon?"
"Yeah."
Asher tucked her in tightly. "Don't worry about it. It was just a feeling."
"You shouldn't ignore your feelings Asher." Colette told her.
"I'm sure everything's going to be fine." She climbed into her own bed. "Good night, Cole."
"Good night, Ash."
A loud noise woke the girls from their sleep. The door to their room flew open and two huge men stomped inside. Colette screamed and one of the men backhanded her.
"Silence!"
Asher leapt from her bed at the man. "Leave her alone! She's just a child."
The second man picked her up from behind, effectively pinning her arms to her sides and carried her downstairs. The other man followed with her sister. They were taken outside where her father, brother and the four household servants were already lying dead. Her mother was weeping, crying to the men for mercy.
"Please, let my girls go. Don't harm them, I beg you." The leader, a huge man with long, scraggily hair picked her up by her hair.
"Shut up. If I hear another word from your mouth, I will rape and kill your daughters and you will watch." Emile blanched and he dropped her and turned his attention to Colette.
"What is your name, pretty?"
Colette shrunk back. "Colette." Her voice was soft and frightened. He ran his hand over her body roughly. She whimpered and pulled away from him.
Asher broke free from the man restraining her and flew at the leader. "Don't touch her!" He backhanded her and she flew back. Her head hit a rock and everything went black.
Asher opened her eyes and coughed. It was still dark out. She took a deep breath and sat up slowly.
"Hey, Demitri! This one's not dead." Someone grabbed her by the collar of her nightdress and dragged her to her feet.
The leader laughed. "Then you can have her, Marco."
She was spun around and came face to face with the man who had dragged her from her room. His face was scarred and he leered at her. "Now you and I can have some fun."
She screamed and hit him. He laughed and threw her to the ground. He ripped open her bodice and grasped her breast roughly. He kissed her and she bit down on his lip. Cursing, he slapped her and drew out a wicked looking dagger. She saw it and renewed her struggles. She scratched at his face and neck. Hitting her one last time, he stabbed her through the heart.
The man saw the castle from a distance and started toward it hoping to ask for lodging. The sun was just beginning to rise and he could get in almost a full day's work for a night's room and board. He walked up the path leading to the back of the house, when he felt the familiar presence of another Immortal. He drew his sword and walked to the front of the castle, searching for the Immortal. The young woman lay dead on the soft grass, her body exposed. He swept off his cloak, covering her with it as Asher moved. Shuddering, she took a deep breath, then another. She opened her eyes and saw the man leaning over her. She pushed him away and then realized she her nightdress was torn. She gathered the soft wool cloak to her body and took a closer look at the man watching her.
He was slender, but well built. His clothes were not the style of the region and his dark hair was long. His features were well sculpted with a strong nose and cheekbones. A sensuous mouth was turned up in a grim smile. All he carried with him was a small sack and the sword he held in his hand.
"Don't kill me." Asher pleaded.
"I'm not going to kill you." The man said, his green-gold eyes watching her intently. He put his sword away and looked around. He noticed what was presumably the girl's family lying dead not too far away. "Maybe we should go inside." He said hastily.
"They killed my family." She said and curled into herself sobbing. He picked her up and carried her inside so she wouldn't have to look at the carnage outside.
After a bit, she took a deep breath and looked up at her. He was sitting in her father's chair.
"What happened?" His voice was calm and enticed her to trust him.
"They attacked last night. Colette and I were dragged from our beds. Papa and Philippe were already dead." The memories brought on a fresh onslaught of tears. "They were going to rape Colette. I tried to stop them but he pushed me. My head hit a rock. When I woke up, they were getting ready to leave but one of them saw me. The leader said he could have me. He pushed me down and ripped my gown." She sobbed.
"Take a deep breath."
She concentrated on breathing for a few minutes before finishing. "I fought him. But I must have passed out and he left."
"I'll help you with the funeral pyres. Then we'll leave tomorrow." He helped her to her feet.
"Where are we going?"
"Don't worry about that now. Why don't you change and get two dresses for your sister and mother?"
She nodded and headed upstairs. He went outside to build the pyres. The family had been viciously attacked, their house plundered. The girl didn't even realize she had died. It was going to cause trouble. He only prayed they didn't meet up with another Immortal before he explained things. Sighing, he set to his task.
After she had changed into an old stola, Asher sat in her bedroom on the floor by her sister's trunk. Most of her things had been strewn around the room in hopes of finding something of value. She found a simple white nightdress and left the mess. Her parent's bedroom was worse. Most of her father's things were gone and her mother's night table had been knocked over. The rest of their things were all over the room. When Asher saw this she sank to the floor in sorrow.
That was how the man found her. She was sitting on the floor just staring at the room. He touched her shoulder gently and she jumped. "Are you ready?"
She stood and picked over the fallen belongings until she found one of her mother's nightdresses. Turning to him, she nodded. They walked back downstairs. When they reached the door to castle, she turned to him. "Would you wait here?" He nodded and she went down to where her family lay. She stopped at the sight of her sister, bruised and bloody. Steeling herself she set to her task. She removed the torn and soiled nightdress from her sister's body and dressed her in the clean one, pulling some sticks from her hair in the process. When she was done she crossed her sister's arms over her chest and moved on to her mother.
Emile was a little away from the rest of the family. Asher crossed to her and knelt. She pulled the nightdress on quickly, not wanting to see her mother in that state. She crossed her mother's arms also and walked unsteadily back to the house.
"All done?" He was leaning against the doorframe gazing out at the countryside.
She nodded and let him lead her back down to the pyres. He had started a small fire and she sat by it watching him carry her family to their pyres. Her mother and father rested on the same pyre and her brother and sister each had their own. When he was done, he helped her up and handed her a branch that was flaming at one end. She took it and stepped up to her mother and father. She murmured a small prayer and touched the branch to the pyre. Repeating the actions with her brother and sister, she sat back down by the fire and watched them burn. Tears ran slowly down her face. The man stepped up behind her and put a hand on her shoulder, lending strength.
Sometime later, when the fires had burned down, he helped her up. "You should have something to eat." He led her inside and into the kitchen. She sat on a small stool and leaned onto the worktable, watching him with fuzzy interest while he moved around the kitchen.
A bowl of something was set in front of her. She looked up at him.
"Eat." When she made no move to take the offered spoon. "If you don't I'll feed you myself."
She took the spoon and began to eat. Soon she realized she was very hungry and finished two bowls of stew.
"Dying'll do that to you." He muttered cryptically.
"Thank you for your help." She said softly. "I don't know how I'm going to go on. I can't run the lands by myself."
"You'll come with me."
"Where?" She watched him as he wandered around the kitchen.
"Northwest of here. We could leave today."
"I can't leave. I have to stay. These are my family's lands." She shook her head.
"They weren't your family."
She looked at him. "Yes they were. How can you say that? You don't even know me."
He shrugged. "None of our kind have families. We're foundlings."
She ignored him. "I have to clean up the house. I don't want people to see the house like this." She rose from the stool and went into the salon. He followed her, watching as she touched fallen objects. She stuffed sewing back in their proper baskets and set the baskets on a shelf in the wall.
"So much is gone." She said and sniffled, tears threatening again. "They destroyed my home." She turned to him. "Why didn't they kill me?"
The man sighed and looked skyward. She would have to ask the difficult questions today. He thought. "They did." He told her.
"No they didn't." She said obstinately. "I've been breathing and walking around all day."
"You died when your head hit the rock."
She scoffed at him. "How could he have killed me? I'm sitting here with you, aren't I?"
He watched her for a moment more and stood up. "Wait here. I'll be right back." He left her sitting there, holding her brother's woodcarving. She looked around, thinking about what he had said, finally coming to the conclusion that the man was crazy.
She looked up before he came into view, as a strange feeling came over her. He emerged from the hallway, carrying a knife. "Watch." Kneeling by her, he held out his arm. Slowly, he drew the knife across it, cutting deep.
She let out a little scream and backed away from him.
"Wait. Here, look." He held out his arm and wiped away the blood. Underneath the skin was unbroken. She looked at him in disbelief.
"How is that possible? It's a trick. You didn't really cut yourself." She declared.
He shook his head. "No trick." He grabbed her arm. She struggled against him as he sliced open her arm. She screamed and pulled herself free. "Stop, just look at your arm."
When she was a safe distance from him, she looked down at her arm. The blood had already slowed and the edges of the wound were closing. When she wiped the blood away on her dress, all she saw perfect unflawed skin. "I don't, what happened? You cut me. I felt the knife go in. Why isn't there a cut? I felt it."
"We can't be harmed like mortals. Any wounds we get heal almost instantly."
"What are we?" She looked up at him.
"Immortal."
"We can't die?"
He shook his head. "We can but only by one way. If our head is removed from our body then it's over."
"Am I really a foundling?"
"We all are. Look at your family. They were blond, green eyes, tall." He touched her dark curls.
"No one told me."
"Most of us don't find out until we meet our first death." He looked up and out the window. The sun was almost gone from the horizon. "Go to bed, little one. We leave early tomorrow."
She looked at him warily and nodded. She was tired. "Good night." She said and climbed the stairs to her bedroom.
He watched her go and sighed, wondering what he'd gotten himself into.