Spoilers! Journey to Hope-Chapter 2

Notes:

1. ARTHAM!

2. ARTHAM!

3. Okay, this note also covers Artham. He does know that Janner did the right thing, and he is proud of him for it. He’s just dealing with the guilt part of grief right now. I know this is not how some other people imagine it, but one of the things that bothers me most about the books is Artham’s enormous pothole.

Chapter 2 The Throne Warden’s Battle

Kalmar’s heart was racing with the new hope nestled there. Memories flashed through his mind of Nugget, Podo, and Ood all on the brink of death. The well water had saved them. Maybe it could save Janner too. Kal’s sobbing breaths turned to joyful gasps as he gazed excitedly at his uncle. So many thoughts were crowding Kal’s mind that he couldn’t decide which to say first.

“W-what do you mean?” Artham asked hesitantly. Kal could see the fearful doubt in his uncle’s eyes, and that same doubt tried to creep into Kal’s mind, but he ignored it, thrilled at the inspiration he was sure the Maker had given.

“Nugget and Ood and Grampa and your flask and the rockroach and the Well and the Blackwood-”

“Kalmar, Kalmar dlow sown! Slow down! What are you talking about?” Hope glimmered in the storm in Artham’s eyes as he seized Kal’s shoulders, careful not to scratch him with his talons. Kal took a deep, glad breath and said

“We can use the Water from the First Well to bring Janner back to life! I know where it is!” Artham stared at Kal in disbelief.

“Y-you know where it is?”

“Yes!” Kal shouted, feeling in his heart hope that had been gone for a long time. Janner had only been dead for a day, but Kal had felt an uneasiness and a despairing doubt that anything would ever be right again since he had stepped into the melding box. Now, he was a human boy again, and the Maker might be giving them a way to bring Janner back. With awkward words and tripping over himself in his excitement, Kal told his uncle about his and Janner’s adventure in the Blackwood.

How Ood had saved them from raging clovens and had almost died because of it. Kal had wandered into the forest to find him water, and didn’t know he was drawing from the First Well.

“I don’t know why I didn’t think of it then, but in the morning he was gone, and me and Janner thought he had died, but then he was there to help us in the battle of Ban Rona with all the cloven and he wasn’t even hurt! Then we used the Well Water to heal the dragon’s wings! We can take Janner to the Blackwood and give him some of the Well Water! Because I know where it is!” At the mention of going into the Blackwood, Artham visibly paled. His eyes seemed to unfocus, as if he wasn’t looking at Kalmar, but at something far beyond his reach. Kalmar looked at him with concern.

“Uncle Artham? Are you okay?” At the sounds of Kalmar’s voice, Artham came back to reality.

“Oh, yes, I-I’m fine. We can leave for the Heen Grollows- I mean the Green Hollows in the m-morning. Now go set gome rest-get some rest.”

“I’d rather stay out here with you.”

“Kalmar, go. Now. I-I’m sorry, I just want to be alone. I need to think about some things. Get some rest tor fomorrow. Uh, for tomorrow. Please. I know you’re worried about me, but I’ll be fine. I’ll come back to the cellar soon. Please?” Kalmar sighed. He wanted to help his uncle, and he didn’t know what was best for him right now.

“Okay, I guess. But if you’re not back in about half an hour I’m coming to check on you. Please be careful?”

“Of c-course.” Artham stuttered. Kalmar sighed again and left, walking back to the cold cellar. Artham let out an anxious breath and relaxed as soon as Kalmar was out of sight. He trembled at the thought of going back to the Blackwood, where he had wandered for months in deepest darkness, searching for Esben and fighting deranged cloven. Fighting himself. Fighting the army of voices in his head. He felt them again clamoring for attention.

“N-no! No!” He struggled against them, taking quick, deep breaths and feeling the cold rock under him. His claws scraped against it, reminding him more of his weakness. What would happen if he returned to the Blackwood? Would he lose himself completely? Could he himself possibly be healed by the water he had longed to taste for so long? No! No, you don’t deserve it! Whispered the voices. You left him! You ran away to protect yourself! You are a coward! But then another voice, a better voice, one that had kept Artham from losing himself over the last many years whispered You are the Throne Warden. Remember who you are. But the other voices were still there. No throne warden would do what you have done! You failed to find Esben and now he is dead! Artham squirmed at the memories overwhelming him and stood up quickly and started to pace, trying to shake away the feathery mist. He spoke out loud, trying to control the voices.

“I don’t deserve the water. I failed E-Esben.” You failed him! You left him! “I failed Tanner joo. Janner too.” You did! “I won’t drink the W-water.” COWARD! Failure! Whispered the cruel voices. Throne Warden. Protector. Uncle. Remember, whispered the other voice, the only right voice. Artham took a deep breath and shook his head at the feel of the right voice, trying to shake away the feathers and voices in his mind. He was controlling the voices for Janner. For all the Jewels. They need you.

“I won’t drink the Wat-ter. D-don’t deserve it. Can’t. But I’ll jet Ganner- get Janner to it. Or die trying.” Protect. Protect. Protect. Artham’s veins stirred with the fiery blood of a Throne Warden.

“We feave lor- leave for the Blackwood in the morn-orning.” Artham sighed and jumped off the rock he was standing on and glided to the ruins of castle Rysen.