Thirteen Lullabies | ✓

IV.III

It was a couple days later, and your tribe was getting antsy. Cyllin said goodbye as he left for another tribe, but he mentioned that we needed to be wary. The Celts could all feel it, the threat of Roman invasion hanging in the air all around them. Something was coming.

After your brother disappeared behind a hill, we found our way through a small forest. At the end of it was a small pasture, untouched by man. You told me it was your favorite place to be at night, the best place to watch the stars. We lay down, your head resting on my stomach as you explained what you saw in the stars.

You pointed toward a cluster that you identified as a pig. I didn't see it, but I nodded along with you. You then pointed to the North Star and explained that Celts believed that was where heaven was located. The movement of stars around the axis of the North Star created a spiral-like path that would allow the soul to ascend to heaven, you said. I was hardly listening, so entranced by the movement of your hands as you spoke.

The sound of twigs snapping had you jumping away from me, eyes wide with fright, brows knitted together in concern. I am not sure what you were afraid of, whether it was the possibility of a Roman attack or being caught with me. Though the tribe was aware of the time we spent together, they were unaware of the nature of our relationship.

As I mentioned before, women of that time were often given the same freedoms as men, and therefore it wasn't odd that a man and woman were together as friends.

We both knew, however, that if anybody found out about what we were doing with our time together, the news would spread like wildfire to Baran. I promised you with everything that I was that I would protect you if ever Baran tried to hurt you.

And he did. That morning in the clearing, he came from the forest in a manic rage, eyes set on the two of us. It was clear he had either heard talk or had seen the two of us together, eyes latching onto our forms with anger boiling behind them. When he got close enough to reach for you, I tucked you behind me, making good on my promise to you.

Seconds later, his fist was loosening my jaw with a sickening crack, a blood-curdling scream making its way past your lips. When he reached for you again, I pulled him to the ground next to me, throwing myself upon him and hitting him.

Baran may have been angry before, but the minute he went after you, sweet nightingale, I saw red. Rage overtook me, swallowed me up and spit me out, fury roaring in my ears, his blood on my mind.

I beat him until you had to pull me from him. And though it was not my finest moment, I would have done it again and again to protect you.

I know what you would say, my weeping willow. Bloodshed was never the answer, and after all of our lives together, we both know that to be the case. And though you think you don't need my protection, sometimes I protect you for my own benefit.

When the red in my vision cleared, I saw you, tears welling in your eyes. There was a minuscule amount of underlying fear beneath those tears, and that hurt me more than a hundred of Baran's punches could have ever hurt.

I pulled you towards me and you didn't resist, indicating you weren't completely upset with me. I felt the whisper of your lips against my ear as you tried to bring me back from whatever haze I had been in before.

"We need to leave before Baran goes after my father. Many people will back him and now my father is in danger. I am going to pack a few things and we are going to seek refuge in Mona. Come on." You urged me forward, and the thoughts of the consequences you would have to face because of my brash decision swam through my mind.

We both knew Baran would go after your family no matter what. We just hoped that by leaving, we would delay him enough that they could be ready for his attack.