Chapter 8: Ellie?

We left with just the two wagons, mine and Dodson’s family. I walked beside my wagon in front carrying my silenced Super Long. Little One lay across my shoulders watching. The dwarf tunnels were only a week away but it was going to be over hills and across a lot of small streams. That night we made camp and settled in.

I was to take the middle watch and had just started thinking about crawling into the wagon since it looked like it would rain. The voice that came out of the night had everyone moving towards weapons. I used my night scope to look and saw five people standing just out of the fire light.

Dodson called for one to come forward and I got a surprise when a slim man walked to the fire. As I watched him, I realized he wasn’t a man. His hair was white and he had longer ears than a man and an almost delicate face. I cleared my throat, “Tell the others to come in.”

That brought his attention to me and his eyes narrowed. Even from where I knelt in the shadows, I saw the yellow cat slit pupils of his eyes. I looked into his eyes without looking away and he smiled before turning to call into the night. It was mix of French and Celtic and I smiled, “You are right, they should watch the human.”

He looked at me quickly as the others came forward into the light. My world seemed to slow and then stop as I looked at Ellie. She was younger but I knew it was her. I felt the pain of losing her all over again. I started when Sam touched my shoulder, “Samuel?”

I looked at him and then the others. I turned away and moved into the darkness. I knew it wasn’t really my Ellie but she had looked so much like her, like the way she moved and gestured. I stood in the dark feeling lost and alone more then at anytime since I had come to this world. When Ellie had died my world had ended and I would have welcomed death.

I heard the soft step behind me and ignored it. The person stopped just behind me, “Tell me what you saw human.”

I glanced back at the manlike person that had walked into our camp, “Leave me to my pain.”

He sighed, “You are a crossover.”

I ignored him while he stood as if waiting. Finally he put a hand on my shoulder, “Sometimes those on your world die. They are reborn to live again somewhere else as someone else. Sometimes ... rarely ... very rarely, the gods step in and one is reborn here. They remember nothing of your world but vague dreams and shadows.”

I looked at him, “My Ellie only died five years ago.”

He smiled, “What is time to a god?”

I shook my head and looked into the night, “Go away whatever you are.”

He dropped his hand and walked back towards the camp. Little One clawed her way up my leg and body to crouch on my shoulder and purr. I reached up to touch her body, “Thank you but it does not help.”

I didn’t even hear her until she cleared her throat, “What is your name?”

I closed my eyes and then opened them and slowly turned to face my angel. I looked into her eyes and knew I had been right when I first saw her, “Samuel.”

She nodded, “I dream of seeing you. I never knew your name...”

I looked away and whispered, “You died.”

She sat gracefully and looked at the ground, “Green Bow told me you were a crossover.”

She sighed, “I feel like I know you Samuel.”

I looked away, “We were married for twenty five years.”

She looked up, “You are not that old.”

I laughed as I felt my face. I had looked at myself just a couple of days before. She was right, I didn’t look my age. I looked maybe twenty five, “That is another story, El.”

She smiled, “El? That sounds ... right.”

I smiled and took a breath before shaking myself. I held my hand down to her, “I am Samuel Grey.”

She took my hand as she stood to face me, “Elizabeth ... Grey. My friends call me Ellie.”

I nodded and gestured back to the camp before pulling Little One down into my arms where she purred loudly. Everyone looked up as we came into camp. The four that had been with her when they came to the camp sat by the fire and looked at me. I could see they were like that first ... person.

A small shape scampered out of the dark and headed straight for Ellie. She barely paused as she knelt and scooped up a tabby cat that looked a little older then Little One. Little One lifted her head and I smiled as her eyes brightened. I bent and set her down, “Do not stay up all night.”

I nodded to Dodson and headed to my wagon. I laid back thinking and fell asleep with the vision of Ellie. I woke to the slight shifting of the wagon and then rain. Even in the dark I knew it was Ellie. Little One purred by my head and from somewhere next to her an answering purr sounded.

“Samuel?”

The voice was a soft whisper, “Here.”

I reached to where I had the generating flashlight and wound it up as she sat on the bed. I turned the light on and her eyes widened. I sat up and turned to put my feet on the floor. Ellie looked from me to the flashlight and back before grinning. She looked at me with sparkling eyes, “The dwarf Dodson said you had mid watch. Would you mind if I stayed in your wagon?”

I shook my head, “Is it mid watch already?”

She shook her head, “almost.”

I moved to the chest at the head of the bed, “Well, the bed is warm...”

She smiled and nodded, “I see Charles has charmed his way into your bond cat’s bed.”

I glanced at Little One to see the small young tabby cat lying next to her. I smiled and looked at Ellie as I reached for my boots, “Let me put my boots...”

She lay back with her feet off the edge, “I did not plan to kick you out.”

I grinned and finished lacing my boots before shutting the flashlight off so my eyes would adjust to the night. I could hear Ellie as she shifted and then I heard her boots drop. I smiled, “El? Who are those ... people you came with?”

She shifted and I knew she was lying on my bed, “Elves. Well, that is what Green Bow said you would call them ... or Sidhe.”

I grinned, “This has been a lot like Alice in wonderland. I fell down a hole and now I am in a world of fantasy. I have spoken and made friends with a dragon, met Dwarves and Elves. The only thing left would be to meet a wizard.”

Ellie didn’t laugh, she shifted on my bed, “Well ... you have met a mage. I guess that would be close to a wizard. Wizards are all stuffy old men anyway.”

I looked towards the bed trying to see her, “Mage?”

She laughed, “Me.”

I blinked thinking about what she had said and what came to mind was Ellie with her whizzing gadgets back home. I smiled, “We’ll have to talk about that.”

I heard the soft knock on the wagon and turned to face the rear, “I’m awake.”

I pulled my vest from the wall and put it on before standing and leaning over the bed to pick up the rifle. I moved to the back of the wagon and hesitated before looking back at the bed, “Are you leaving tomorrow El?”

“No. Green Bow talked Dodson into letting us travel with them.”

I smiled, “He talked to the wrong person El. I’m the one to decide that.”

I slipped out of the wagon and shivered as the rain started soaking through my clothes. I found Adalson by the horses and sent him to bed. I made a round using my thermal scope and stood under some trees by the horses. The sound of rain was loud but there was another sound that drew my attention.

I looked through my scope and saw what at first I thought was a small dragon. It glowed in the thermal image as if very hot. I followed its head as it looked to one side and saw a second one and then a third. The third was sideways and I sighted on a spot behind the ear and fired. The sound of the shot was muffled and not really that loud.

The eyes of the two other dragon creatures snapped to me and I knew they could see me, “ATTACK!”

The one I had shot was down and the other two charged. I shot the second straight through the throat and shifted to the last. It was almost on me as four arrows struck it and I fired. I put three rounds through its chest and then looked out at the second one. It was down and thrashing around like it was trying to breath.

I shot it through the head and it stilled. I looked at the four elves as they drifted out of the night. One said something to the others and headed out towards the bodies. I looked back as lanterns flared to life and the dwarves came towards us. The horses had stirred at my firing but had settled down.

When the elf that had gone out to check the small dragon things returned, he glanced at me, “The human killed them.”

They all looked at me as I turned to Dodson when he stomped up, “Some type of small dragon thing.”

He jerked, “Drakes?”

I shrugged, “Do drakes look like dragons?”

He shook his head, “They pass us by?”

I pointed out into the darkness and he raised the lantern before taking a step back, “Damn!”

I looked at the elves as they looked at me curiously, “Are there very many of these drake animals?”

Ellie slipped up next to me and I jerked. I grinned as she looked out and then spoke to Green Bow, “How many?”

He looked into the darkness, “three. A mating set.”

I looked from him to Ellie and she nodded before softly murmuring something that didn’t sound like a real language. The whole area lit up to show the three dead drakes. She looked at Green Bow, “Nested?”

He nodded and Ellie looked at Dodson, “It should be awhile before their hatchlings break shell. The hides should bring a high price in the tunnels.”

Dodson turned and gestured to the others and they headed out. Ellie shivered as she looked around in the light rain. She looked at me, “You are much more than you seem.”

She looked at Green Bow, “Much more.”

I smiled as I looked up at the glow that lit the area, “So are you El.”

She smiled and turned towards the wagon, “I think I will go dry off.”

I laughed and looked out at the busy dwarves as they skinned the three dead animals. The elves drifted away and I was left to keep watch. Almost as soon as the dwarves walked past me and into camp the glow that lit the area died. When I was relieved, I walked to the wagon and climbed in. I stripped out of my wet clothes and heard Ellie shifting on the bed.

I smiled in her direction but only moved to the chest at the head of the bed. I took my time wiping down my rifle and cleaning it. The years had taught me that light wasn’t always needed to do things and I was comfortable sitting in the dark. I hesitated when I finished and set the rifle aside. I moved to the bed and wasn’t surprised that the covers were held up for me.

I slipped in and turned to face away as Ellie snuggled against my back and Little One crawled down into my arms purring. I woke to the hint of dawn and the warm feeling of my wife against my back. I slowly looked over my shoulder to see Ellie looking back and smiling. I slid out of bed and set Little One up with Charles before opening a chest.

I pulled a dry set of clothing out and Ellie chuckled softly, “At least you have clean dry clothes.”

I smiled, “I could offer you a warm shirt but I think the pants would be a little large.”

She smiled and sat up and held out her hand. I pulled a shirt out and finished dressing. I smiled to see Ellie wearing only the shirt as she followed me out. I watched as she headed to the elves and turned to go speak with Dodson. He apologized for accepting the elves but said they would be worthy companions.

I went to my horses and put their feed bags on while getting them ready. Unlike the plains, I had eight horses pulling the wagon with two following on long leads. I checked each horse and harnessed them. When I was finished and the feed bags were removed, it was time to go.

I had Ellie appear to walk beside me as I walked in front of our wagons. I glanced at the tall white staff she used and smiled, “Now you look more magical with your staff.”

She grinned and looked down at her bare legs, “And feel naked.”

I laughed, “If you were naked I might try something.”

She laughed and bumped against me like my Ellie used to. I sighed as I scanned the surrounding area, “So ... what brings you and your elves to this wonderful place?”

She looked at me and then back at one of the elves walking to the side, “I was just traveling to my new home but they go to the Dwaven tunnels to speak with the counsel.”

I was curious, since I knew there were dragons ... and drakes, dwarves and elves ... I looked at Ellie, “El?”

She smiled as she looked at me, “Yes Samuel?”

I grinned and scanned the area again before looking at her, “Since there are elves and dwarves, does that mean there are orcs, trolls or goblins?”

She looked at me but didn’t say anything. When I looked at her she nodded solemnly, “Yes.”

It was in the late afternoon that I signaled to bring the wagons together for the night. We were beside a wide shallow stream and I was thinking of trying my luck. The wagons formed a vee with the horses inside. I dug out my rod and set my rifle on the bank before taking my boots off and wadding in.