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Tragedy
Jul 14, 2006 18:18:53 GMT -5
Post by Sky on Jul 14, 2006 18:18:53 GMT -5
OOC: Happens a few weeks after the "It's a girl!" thread/after Aurelie leaves Eraklyon. Since then Demetrius has learned that not only is Aurelie from Linphea, but she is the half-sister of one of his friends, Rowen (Flora's father). Wanting to give Aurelie some time to cool off after the way they had last spoken, Demetrius finally decides to visit her and see if they can work things out. "You didn't have to come, you know," Demetrius said quietly as he kept his attention focused on the country road before them, his hands lightly holding the reins to the horse-drawn wagon that he had borrowed from a local farmer. "I know," Philomena answered as she tightened her cloak around her to ward off the chilly wind that seemed intent on piercing through her clothing. "But I've been doing some thinking and I realize now that Aurelie is never going to go away. Your . . . daughter," at this Philomena felt her throat constrict painfully, "your daughter is never going to go away. I tried to pretend that I could forget them - that we could go back to the way things were when it was just us and we were just happy and in love. But it can't be that way; I see that now. I mean, I know we can still be happy, but in order to do that . . . you have to know your daughter. You can try to deny it, but I'm certain that if I keep you away from her, someday you'll grow to hate me. And that thought is even harder for me to bear than the thought of you being with another woman. But even more than that, that little girl didn't ask for any of this. Demetrius, she deserves to know her father - to know what a good, kind, honest man he is. God, she needs someone like you in her life; every girl does. I can't deny her that. It wouldn't be right." His heart swelling with a profound love for his wife, Demetrius silently wondered how he had ever been so lucky to have found someone as good-hearted as her. Reaching over across the seat, Demetrius lightly squeezed her hand as he said simply, "Thank you, darling. You don't know what this means to me." Scooting closer to her husband, Philomena rested her head on his shoulder, content on enjoying the feel of his firm arm wrapped around her. A soft smile gracing her face, she vaguely wondered to herself if perhaps this baby would actually help her relationship with Demetrius. It certainly did feel as though the baby was teaching both of them a lesson - him, to be more open, more feeling, and her to be more forgiving. And what was a relationship without all of those characteristics? No, perhaps this wasn't the end of the world after all. Perhaps it was the start of something really good.
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Tragedy
Jul 14, 2006 21:35:00 GMT -5
Post by Sky on Jul 14, 2006 21:35:00 GMT -5
After some time had passed by in comfortable silence, Demetrius said suddenly, a fond smile playing across his features, "Do you remember the time when we first met?" Laughing softly, Philomena replied with an arched brow as she tilted her head to get a better view of his face, "Of course I remember; after all, a girl can never forget - no matter how hard she may try - the most mortifying experience of her life." Chuckling, Demetrius teased, "Oh, come now - it wasn't so terrible, was it?" "Easy for you to say," Philomena answered dryly. "You weren't the one who made a fool out of yourself when all you wanted to do was impress a handsome gentleman." Lightly flicking the reins in order to steer the horse onto a bridge that would enable them to cross over the river far below, Demetrius wiggled his brows as he began to make a mildly crude remark, but before he could finish the comment, a loud cracking sound came from within the woods on the opposite bank. In all likelihood, it was just a woodcutter chopping down a tree - but the horse didn't know that. Everything happening so quickly, Demetrius helplessly felt the reins slip out of his hands as the horse wildly reared up on its hind legs several times before breaking free of its flimsy harness, and immediately bolting down the bridge, disappearing out of sight into the woods. The force of the horse's wild jerks, however, had sent the wagon rolling precariously close to the edge of the bridge before it finally came to a halt, one wheel only millimeters away from open air. Taking a deep gulp, Demetrius turned his head to look at Philomena as he said hoarsely, "Stay still, Mena, because any sudden movement and we're . . ." Not wanting to finish that sentence, Demetrius trailed off before he continued, "Now, I want you to scoot closer to me very slowly, okay? Very, very slowly." Her hands suddenly becoming clammy, Philomena slowly turned her head as she looked out over the side of the wagon. She was so close to the edge and the river was so far down . . . Not able to look any longer, she squeezed her eyes shut, wishing that she didn't have such a deep fear of heights. Almost paralyzed by her fear of falling into the seeming abyss, Philomena distantly heard Demetrius gently coaxing her to draw closer to him; trying to concentrate on his soothing voice, she felt herself begin to regain control over her body. Swallowing back her fear, Philomena tentatively moved an inch closer to Demetrius, but when she felt the wagon pulse beneath her, she froze. Shaking her head, Philomena whimpered as she said, "It's not going to work. If I move any more, this wagon is going over the edge-" "It won't," Demetrius replied forcefully. But he wasn't so sure. They were so close to edge . . . but they couldn't just sit there - they had to do something. "Come on, darling; you can do it. I know you can." As he watched his wife ever so carefully move across the seat, Demetrius felt his whole body tense. He could feel the wagon lightly swaying back and forth and he knew in that split moment before it happened that they were going down.
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Tragedy
Jul 15, 2006 14:30:09 GMT -5
Post by Sky on Jul 15, 2006 14:30:09 GMT -5
Down, down, down, he could feel himself falling. And yet, it didn't feel like he thought it would. Yes, it was the strangest sensation - first being thrown from the wagon and then that surreal feeling of the earth dropping out from under his feet - but it wasn't painful. Only dream-like. In fact, Demetrius was vaguely convinced that at any moment he would find himself jerking awake in the comfort of his warm bed back in the palace. Yes, everything felt hazy and slow - as though he was trying to push his way through a pool of molasses; it truly felt as if he was suspended in time, although, in reality, the fall could not have lasted more than a few seconds. Such were the pleasant thoughts running through his head as Demetrius hurtled toward the river far below; and so, when his body finally collided and became submerged in the icy water, it was a shock to him that the experience was indeed very real. And suddenly, very terrifying. With choking gasps, Demetrius finally managed to push his head above the surface as he fought to breathe. Feeling mildly disoriented, he briefly closed his eyes as he tried to regain control over his mind. It was nothing, he told himself mentally. It was just a little fall. He was going to fine. A little cold. A little bloody from hitting his head on an unfortunately placed rock. But still, perfectly fine. Ignoring the heavy feeling of his water filled boots, Demetrius flipped himself onto his back and floated aimlessly as he wondered in mild confusion why something still felt wrong. And then it hit him. In one split second, he saw through the haze that was still his mind and realized what was nagging at him. The quiet. It was too quiet . . . Panic immediately searing through his body, Demetrius darted his gaze around as he called out desperately, a part of him already knowing that there would be no answer, "Mena! Mena, this isn't funny! Where are you?" But no delicate laugh greeted his pleas. No splash of water came from behind accompanied by his wife's sweet voice saying, "Got you!" No, the only answer was the gurgling of the river water and the distant chirping of a bird in the trees.
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Tragedy
Jul 15, 2006 14:50:52 GMT -5
Post by Sky on Jul 15, 2006 14:50:52 GMT -5
Refusing to believe that a terrible fate had befallen his Mena, Demetrius thrashed about in the water as he forced his weighted down legs to cooperate and propel him forward. He was going to find her and she was going to be fine. She had to be fine. She wouldn't be dea- Unable to bear finishing that thought, Demetrius clenched his jaw as he dove beneath the surface, his eyes opened as he tried futilely to make out anything in the murky water. Returning to the surface, Demetrius felt his eyes stinging with unshed tears. This wasn't happening. Not to him. It couldn't be happening because Mena swam as though she herself was a fish. It was impossible for her to drown . . . And then he caught sight of something out of the corner of his eye that made his heart sink. With cold dread coursing through his veins, Demetrius swam toward it, praying that it wasn't what he thought it was. Praying that it was just some tangled seaweed or algae. But algae wasn't golden blonde in color. As he drew nearer, a strangled cry escaped his throat as the water swelled gently and he saw that his prayers had not been answered. That that algae was really his beautiful wife floating face down in the water, her shining hair strewn about her delicately. Blindly, Demetrius reached out and then pulled her close to his chest, not caring that the bloody gash on her head was staining his shirt a dull red. As Philomena remained motionlessly pressed against him, Demetrius closed his eyes, knowing that he had to face the truth, whatever it may be; gently shaking her shoulders, Demetrius waited in fearful anticipation. "Please," he murmured. "Please, open your eyes, darling."
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Tragedy
Jul 15, 2006 17:39:54 GMT -5
Post by Sky on Jul 15, 2006 17:39:54 GMT -5
Hearing a voice distantly calling out to her, Philomena squeezed her eyes closed, wishing that whoever it was would just leave her be. She didn't want to wake up; she didn't want to go toward the voice. She wanted to remain where she was - in the light. It was nice there. Pleasant. Peaceful, even. And if she opened her eyes, it would all vanish; couldn't the person understand that she didn't want that? That she liked it here? That she felt happier here than she had felt anywhere else? But there was that voice again. Calling her name. Mena. Again. Mena. More urgently this time. MENA!Were those tears she heard, Philomena wondered drowsily. Wait - there it was again. Yes. Yes, the person was crying. But why? Certainly not over her . . . but then who else? Whoever this person was, he - for it obviously was a 'he' - needed her. With a reluctant sigh, she knew that she would have to leave this happy place - at least long enough to comfort this man. To let him know that she was going to be okay. That she wanted - needed - to be here. Trying to force her eyes open, but failing, Philomena groaned softly as a wave of pain went searing through her head. Where had this pain come from? It must be new, she reasoned, for she had not felt it earlier in her warm sanctuary. With a sudden shiver, she wondered too where the warmth had gone - why it had been replaced with this loathsome wet chill . . . As the cloudiness of her mind slowly began to fade away, Philomena started. In an instant, her memories came rushing back. The horse breaking free. The wagon rolling over the edge of the bridge. Falling. Hitting the water. And then the light. And then the voice - Demetrius. Her eyes flying open, Philomena found herself staring up at a handsome, tear-streaked, but now smiling face. Her husband's face.
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Tragedy
Jul 15, 2006 17:55:25 GMT -5
Post by Sky on Jul 15, 2006 17:55:25 GMT -5
Seeing Philomena's gaze lifting to meet his, Demetrius felt as though he had been given the best possible present. She was alive. She was alive! Squeezing her close to him with one arm, using his other one to begin pushing them toward the shore, Demetrius whispered hoarsely against her ear, "Don't ever scare me like that again, you hear? I don't ever want to feel the way I did again so long as I live." Giving him a shaky smile, Philomena nodded wordlessly as she tightly clutched Demetrius' arm, her knuckles turning a shiny white, as she allowed him to pull her along for she was too tired to swim herself. As she absently stared down at her hands, she felt the strangest sensation come over her; she felt dizzy, weak, and cold. So, so cold. Not just on the outside, though - it was as if the water had penetrated her skin and had slipped around her bones. She couldn't stop shaking, shivering. And her heart . . . it was beating so slow . . . something was wrong. Very wrong. Her mind growing hazy again, Philomena whimpered frantically as she watched her vision blur. No. No, she didn't want to go back now. She changed her mind. She didn't want to be in the warmth and the light. She wanted to be here. With Demetrius. She belonged here . . . Feeling her grip on his arm slackening, Philomena cried out softly and managed to utter an almost inaudible, "Demi," before she felt a dark blackness wash over her.
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Tragedy
Jul 15, 2006 18:09:19 GMT -5
Post by Sky on Jul 15, 2006 18:09:19 GMT -5
Hearing her cry, Demetrius looked down at his wife, a cold chill immediately shooting up his spine - a cold chill that was completely independent of the frigid water temperature. Because when he saw her, the sight that greeted him was that of a person close to death; her skin, lips, and nails had become tinted pale blue - but worse than that was the way her eyes had rolled toward the back of her head, her once bright blue gaze replaced with one that was a frightening milky white. A lump building up in his throat, Demetrius pulled her body closer to his and forced himself to swim faster, a task that was far from easy. His body was exhausted. His legs ached and his arms cried out in pain, begging him to let them rest. But he couldn't. Not now. He had to keep going. For her.
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Tragedy
Jul 15, 2006 18:50:33 GMT -5
Post by Sky on Jul 15, 2006 18:50:33 GMT -5
Reaching the shore after what had felt like an eternity and a half, Demetrius immediately pushed his wife up onto the dry surface before unceremoniously heaving himself out of the water. Not giving another moment's thought to himself and his own precarious condition, Demetrius knelt down beside Philomena and tentatively felt her wrist for a pulse. It was there. It was faint, but still there. Still there. That meant that he had time. Not a lot, but enough to get her to Rowen's if he hurried. And if he could just get her there, he knew that she would be okay because his friend's wife, Wysteria, was brilliant when it came to treating sick people; she'd know what to do to make Mena better. Not waiting a moment more, Demetrius lifted Philomena's slender body into his arms as he ascended the rough path that would get them back on track to Rowen's as quickly as he could. Keeping his eyes peeled for their loose horse, Demetrius felt his heart swell with joy when he saw the white gelding grazing only a few paces away. Perhaps luck was still with him after all. Mounting the horse, Philomena resting heavily against his chest, Demetrius kicked him into a hard gallop and soon the sound of the hooves pounding against the ground threatened to drown out all other thoughts, excepting one. Over and over in his mind, he kept repeating to himself, "So as long as this horse doesn't give out on me and so as long as my calculations were correct, we can get to Rowen's within fifteen minutes. Fifteen minutes, darling. Just give me fifteen minutes."
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Tragedy
Jul 15, 2006 19:54:47 GMT -5
Post by Sky on Jul 15, 2006 19:54:47 GMT -5
Rounding a corner at full speed, Demetrius could have cried out in relief when he saw the gate to Rowen's home looming just a few feet up ahead. This was it. He had done it. Fifteen minutes and not a second more. Mena was going to all right. She was alive and Wysteria would be able to work her magic and everything would be fine. As he closed the remaining distance to his friend's home in a matter of mere seconds, Demetrius pulled the horse to a skidding halt as he bellowed, "Rowen!!"
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Tragedy
Jul 15, 2006 19:58:32 GMT -5
Post by Demeter on Jul 15, 2006 19:58:32 GMT -5
: Rowen exitted his house, holding his niece in one arm, the bottle in another. "Can I... Sweet Demeter, get your ass inside the house," he said, wincing as he knew his younger sister was going to snap at him for swearing in the presence of Léa. "Wystie! Medical emergency!"
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Tragedy
Jul 15, 2006 20:03:00 GMT -5
Post by Sky on Jul 15, 2006 20:03:00 GMT -5
Holding Philomena tight against his chest, Demetrius didn't need more of an invitation than that to get him inside. Exhausted from the swimming, the walking, and the riding, Demetrius choked out to his friend between gasps of air, "We were . . . coming to visit . . . wagon . . . fell into the river . . . Mena . . . she . . . she's not doing . . . so good."
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Tragedy
Jul 15, 2006 20:11:30 GMT -5
Post by Demeter on Jul 15, 2006 20:11:30 GMT -5
Wysteria came out of the kitchen and swore a soft oath. From what she heard, it'd be a miracle if her husband's friend's wife survived. She sighed softly and was grateful that her half sister in law was at another friend's house - lest she go into hysterics.
"What bridge did you try and take a horse across?" she asked, walking into the room proper and started to get to work.
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Tragedy
Jul 15, 2006 20:19:13 GMT -5
Post by Sky on Jul 15, 2006 20:19:13 GMT -5
Watching as Philomena was laid out on her back, Demetrius felt his stomach twist and for the first time in years, he had the urge to vomit. She looked so . . . so . . . dead. In fact, if he were to cross her arms across her chest, he would be hard-pressed to tell that she was alive. Shivering at this thought, Demetrius twisted his hands as he finally pulled his attention back to the question Wysteria had asked him. "I-I don't know the name of the bridge; you see, I met a local farmer when I first arrived here in Linphea and I rented his horse and wagon so that Mena and I could travel quicker. I asked him for directions to your home and he said to take the bridge - that he'd crossed it many times with his horse and that it was perfectly safe . . ."
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Tragedy
Jul 15, 2006 20:22:18 GMT -5
Post by Demeter on Jul 15, 2006 20:22:18 GMT -5
: Rowen shook his head. "Normally yes, but a friend is building a house for someone," he said, watching to make sure Aurelie didn't walk into see this. "And that horse hates the sound of an ax hitting the tree. The farmer probably forgot," he muttered the last bit under his breath. "Less talk, more work. Put Léa down and get me my medical kit," Wysteria snapped.
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Tragedy
Jul 15, 2006 20:31:18 GMT -5
Post by Sky on Jul 15, 2006 20:31:18 GMT -5
Carefully watching Wysteria's face for any clues about Mena's condition, Demetrius frowned. Usually he could read faces easily, but hers . . . he wasn't sure. He wasn't stupid; he knew that Mena was bad off and he knew that Wysteria knew that . . . all he didn't know was if Wysteria's expertise was enough to save his wife. Forcing himself to remove this thought from his mind before it drove him mad, Demetrius silently chanted to himself, "Think positive. Positive. Only positive. Mena will be fine. Mena is a trooper. Mena will fight. For me. For our children. For herself. She won't succumb to this. She won't, she won't, she won't." And as Demetrius repeated those words over and over, he began to believe them and soon all fear he had was gone. Everything would right itself in due time. He just had to be patient.
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