Aching limbs woke me from my deep slumber. A gentle warmth surrounded my frail body. Just like two delicate arms that pressed me tightly against a soft bosom. I fidgeted slightly, but the arms held me securely in their warm embrace. A soft murmur was in the air. Only timidly I opened my eyelids. A young woman held me tightly in her lap, a thick blanket hid the nakedness of my body. Next to me, the ruby-red flames were flickering in a huge fireplace.
My head felt heavy. Tough. Images flickered before my inner eyes. I quickly closed my eyes. Just a bad dream. A nightmare. Not true. Not real.
I didn't know what was going on. My body was rigid, leaden. A slight lavender scent wafted over me.
I was almost sweating under the weight of the heat radiating from the fireplace. It was almost unbearable. How hot it was suddenly. How warm. This heat and the yellowish light of the flames took my breath away.
Suddenly I felt my heart flutter under my chest, like a small butterfly, and warm blood pulsating through my body, flowing through my limbs with an unbearable tingling sensation.
"How dare they bring one of these beasts to Isin." A voice was cutting the air, warning me. I was as quiet as a mouse. If I hadn't paid attention to the conversation before, I did it more thoughtfully now. Because this indignant outcry was directed at me. So I suspected, after all I did not understand a word of the foreign language.
"I will not kick her child out." Her arms pulled me tighter against her soft chest and made me look up at the young woman, embracing me within her grasp.
Her whitish hair, flowing like a silver river over the woman's fine shoulders. Purple eyes looked kindly towards me, but I did not even dare to move, the surrounding atmosphere was too tense.
"Mistress, are you insane! Look into these eyes. There must be no such thing." I heard from one of the room.
"Don't be so afraid!" The woman replied in a gentle voice. Her rosy lips pressed tightly together, to a thin line that took the softness out of her elfin features and gave her a certain strength.
"I am not afraid!" the other woman's voice cried. "If the elders knew that. We will burn. The whole house will burn. Are you aware of the risk, milady?"
"This house is dedicated to ruins!" Replied the young woman tiredly.
"The gods themselves have saved this child. It is her gift to the lady, for which she has been longing," a calm male voice gave way. I wondered how many people were still hiding in this large room, but I did not dare to look for them. "Do you hear that, Heba! She becomes our hope!" The young lady smiled happily as she ran her fine fingers over my black hair.
"How can you say that?" Pleaded the female voice. She seemed to come closer and closer until she too could look down on me. In the old woman's round face I found two hazel eyes, eyes in which the darkest fear and bitterness I had never seen before resonated. But I did not understand to whom this look of fear was directed. Her, for instance.
"Look at those eyes, so ominous. How can they ever bring us anything but ruin and ashes?"
"Hush! Heba. How can you talk like that about a child?" The young lady pulled me closer to her bosom. It seemed she would never let anyone take me from her. Now that she finally had me.
"I understand your fear, Heba. But the gods themselves showed me the way to save this house. The child is of my ancestral blood. The gods gave it to my sister to restore the House of Aidoneus to its former glory. Is it not proof enough that it survived even such an unfortunate event?"
"My lord, you have allowed misfortune to enter this house."
"Heba!", the voice of the young woman was suddenly as icy as the north wind. But I felt the woman's hot heart beating against my ear. It suddenly seemed so strong, full of fire and heat. "From today, she belongs to this house and will be raised as our daughter."
"Her eyes! How will you hide her eyes!" Groaning, the old woman, full of despair. One last time, she tried to make her masters see some sense. But the young woman and her master didn't seem to pay any attention to her.
Her mistress, however, passionately proclaimed, "Heba, you will stand by my side. Surely you know some recipe or other to hide her flaw from the world." Reluctantly, the old woman nodded and unwillingly gave her consent to this daring endeavor.
"All right. Heba you will get everything for the recipe tomorrow. "
"On your own responsibility, milady. I will wash my hands of it when the house is on fire," the old woman defiantly announced. "But the secret will never leave my lips."
"Thank you, Heba. So be it. Our lips will guard this secret until our death," proclaimed the young woman proudly. In the background, a door opened barely audible and closed again just as quietly.
Only when the older woman had left the room did the young lady's tension subside. Then she looked down at me, who lingered in her lap. Consider me with this kind smile, "You have nothing to fear." Even I seemed to understand those words. These heavy words that made me feel safe. Holding me tight and warm.
At that moment, I forgot everything around me. Forgot my questions, my worries, my desires.
I forgot everything and at the same time knew I would be safe here. Her arms would protect me.
Then I fell asleep.
Safe in the arms of strangers.