"I could go with you, you know," she said. Beneath her the small stool wobbled a bit, having been made unsteady. She watched him lift his pack onto the horse's back, securing it with a strap. His helm tightened around his chin and his armor fitting him like a glove. She always loved seeing him in his uniform, although this time she wished she could take it off and force him not to go.
Looking up, his eyes met hers, "No you could not, Alanaa." He said somewhat sternly, "I'm not watching out over you out there."
"What if you don't come back?" She asked in a hush voice.
"I'll come back, I promise Alanaa," he answered.
Then he turned his head away, his helm fell over his face as if it was too large for his head. Standing up, Alanaa walked closer and reached out to try and pull it back, "I told you to get a new one." She laughed, "You need a proper sized helm."
But as she pulled the helm back, she saw long brown hair flow out and the familiar freckled cheeks of a girl, not of her husband, "Nettie." She stumbled back in confusion.
"Get of me," Nettie snapped out, pushing herself away from her sister. Looking to the side, Alanaa noticed the horse was not a horse, but a sheep with dark curly hair, slanted pupils, wiggling nose. Nettie crossed her arms as the guard uniform that would have fit Alanaa's husband very well was a little too large for her little sister's frame and the helm slouched to the size on Nettie's head. How could she have forgotten her sister joined the guard too?
"Nettie, what are you doing here?" Alanaa crossed her arms, pulling her shawl inwards to try and ward off the cool breeze that seemed to be stirring.
"I live here," Nettie muttered as she turned. All Alanaa could see was flocks of sheep lining the field leaving little room for the green tuffs of grass to show. Nettie began to walk into them, being ingulfed by the sheep until she, like the lost grass, disappeared.
Alanaa tried to step forward and reach out to grab her sister, but a sheep butted into her legs and caused her to plummet downwards. The grass must have been soft for she made little impact on it. Normally Alanaa would have expected pain, but none came. When she opened her eyes, she blinked as a bright light blinded her. Lifting her hands upward, she shields out the sun and peers across Trestlebridge. It was always such a nice little town, especialy in the heat of summer. Two kids passed running towards the span with giggles escaping them. Suddenly, Alanaa felt a hand on her arm helping her to her feet.
"What are you doing on the ground, dear?" The familiar voice asked with a laugh, "You're going to get your dress filthy."
Looking over, Alanaa saw the scruffy face of her father as she rolls her eyes, "I must have tripped. I was looking for Nettie. Where'd she go?"
He looked around and shrugged, "Where does she ever go?" Her father answered as he released her arm. As soon as she felt his hand leave her, she felt as if she was falling again.
Falling back to the ground.
Falling.
Suddenly Alanaa bolted upright with her eyes wide open. The room around her was dark in the night save for the soft beam of moonlight flooding in through the window. Looking beside her, the bedroll remained empty. Her hand sprawled out where her sister should be. A soft breath escaped her before she raised to her feet and gathered her coat. Wrapping it around her night dress, she quickly did up a few of the buttons and slipped out of the door into the cool night air.
"Damn it," she mutters under her breath as she looked towards the half burnt Trestlebridge. Half the town was blackened with soot, the rooves of the buildings caved inwards. Then her head turned to the Trestlespan, heavily surrounded by guardsmen. One of them could be Nettie.
Stepping down with her bare feet onto the cobble stone path, she made her way to the Trestlespan nearby, stopping by one of the guards who looked down at her.
"Go back to bed, dear. You can't cross tonight," the guardsmen said.
"Oh, right," Alanaa pulled away. "Sorry, I must be confused." Ducking her head down, she turned to look to the town before moving back to the porch of the Woodruff household.
Night ticked by slowly and when Alanaa awoke once again, she was leaned on the shoulder of one of her cousins. Sitting up a bit, she looked to the town now in the bleary sunlight, covered in shadows of clouds, "Did Nettie come home?"
"Hm? Oh no," her cousin responded, looking to Alanaa. "Is that who you were waiting for?"
"No, no," Alanaa shook her head and rose to her feet. "I was just curious."
"You should go inside before your mother wakes," her cousin said, nodding towards the door. "If she finds you were out here this soon after your cough, she'll be furious."
Alanaa nodded, "Your right, thank you." Turning away, Alanaa slowly made her way back up the stairs to return inside the house. She pauses at the door before looking over her shoulder, "I think Anta should be home one of these days, let me know if he comes."
"I will Alanaa," her cousin responded.
