Chapter 11 : reliving the dream
(Important note)1
With a wide smile, the boy thanked the miller and made his way out of the mill.
As he pushed his cart through the village towards home, he couldn't help but feel a sense of pride and accomplishment.
The freshly baked bread from earlier in the day was still warm, and he couldn't wait to share it with his mother.
When he finally arrived at their humble cottage, he discovered his mother resting on the bed near the window, basking in the warm rays of the setting sun that illuminated the nearby cornfields.
He could see the sickness on his mother's face but also a hint of a smile as she watched him approach.
"I brought some freshly baked bread from the mill, Mother. An old woman gave it to me," he said, setting down the basket of bread on the small table beside their bed.
His mother sat up a little straighter, her eyes lighting up as she saw the bread. She reached out and touched it gently, her fingers tracing the pattern on the crust.
"It's beautiful, dear," she said softly. "Thank you for thinking of me."
Aerovind smiled and gently grasped her hand. "You don't have to thank me, Mother. I'm just happy that I could offer you something to possibly improve your mood."
"That's so sweet of you, Aerovind."
Aerovind nodded, understanding that his mother's appetite had been lacking ever since she became sick.
He cut a thick slice of the warm bread and handed it to her, watching as she took a small bite. The look of pure joy on her face was enough to melt his heart.
"How about you, son?" she asked, swallowing the bread and reaching for another slice. "Have you eaten today?"
Aerovind smiled and shook his head. "Yes, Mother, I had dinner with the miller."
As soon as he finished his sentence, his mother's eyes narrowed slightly. "Did you really eat?" she asked, her voice laced with doubt.
Aerovind knew his mother was just worried about him and nodded emphatically. "Yes, I did. The miller gave me some bread and cheese."
"Well then," his mother said, her face softening, "I'm glad to hear it. Now come here and give your mother a hug."
Aerovind walked around the small table and wrapped his arms around his mother, feeling her warmth and love.
They held each other for a moment, neither one wanting to let go.
"I love you so much, Mother," Aerovind whispered into her ear.
"And I love you more than anything in this world, my dear," she replied, squeezing him tightly.
As they separated from their embrace, Aerovind noticed that his mother's lips had darkened in color. It was a telltale sign that her sickness was getting worse.
He swallowed hard, trying to keep the tears from showing on his face.
"Let me help you get settled back in bed, Mother," Aerovind said softly, reaching out to help her lie down.
He tucked the blankets around her and made sure she was comfortable before going to sit beside her once more.
Their gaze drifted towards the window, captivated by the breathtaking canvas of the sky.
Hues of delicate pink, vibrant orange and royal purple blended together while the sun gracefully descended behind the horizon.
The endless expanse of golden cornfields lay spread out before them, casting long shadows in the warm glow of the fading light.
"Mom, why do good people always get hurt?"
His mother sighed softly, her eyes still fixed on the window.
"That's a question with no easy answer, dear. But I do believe that sometimes, the good things in life come with a price. It's how we handle the pain that makes us stronger."
Aerovind nodded, understanding what she meant. He grasped her hand in his and gave it a reassuring squeeze. "I'll do my best to be strong for both of us, Mother. I will be the strongest for you, ma."
His mother smiled sadly, her grip on his hand loosening slightly. "You already are, my dear. You already are." They sat together in silence, listening to the soft rustling of the cornfields outside their window.
As the last rays of the sun disappeared behind the horizon, Aerovind gently pulled the blankets up around his mother, tucking her in for the night. He leaned over and kissed her forehead, whispering, "Goodnight, Mother. I love you."
He waited for a moment, watching as her eyes slowly closed, signaling that she had drifted off to sleep.
With a heavy heart, he rose from the bed and made his way out of the cottage, stepping into the cool night air.
The stars twinkled brightly above him, but they couldn't compare to the bright light that shone within him, the love he held for his mother.
As he walked towards the barn where he would sleep, he couldn't help but feel a sense of responsibility weighing down on him.
His rough, calloused hands fidgeted with the frayed edges of his tattered clothes as he muttered under his breath.
"We're low on healing potions," he grumbled to himself. "Perhaps I'll have to resort to selling myself into slavery in order to get enough coin to make ma visit a proper healer."
He collapsed onto the musty straw, gazing up at the shadows dancing on the wooden beams of the barn ceiling.
The day the soldiers kidnapped his sister from home was etched into Aerovind's memory like a groove on a record.
It was a sweltering afternoon when he had been out tending to the crops, oblivious to the danger lurking nearby.
The deafening sound of horses' hooves drew him away from his thoughts as he turned to see a group of armored men bearing down on him.
One of the men bellowed, his voice echoing through the quiet village: "By order of King Edwin, we must find a girl with white hair to bring back with us. Your sister matches the description, brat."
Before Aerovind could even comprehend what was happening, they had his sister bound and gagged, dragging her away from their home.