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Sky Blue
by Freya
A young woman slowly makes her way down a path to her garden. Closing the gate behind her,
she raises her face to feel the warmth of the sun. Her eyes, sightless now, seem to take
in the birds she knows are soaring high above her. Of all the things she cannot see
anymore, it's the blue, the deep blue of a summer sky, she misses the most. Sighing, she
drops to her knees and runs her hands through the warm moist soil. Finding her tools, she
begins tending to her flowers and plants, smiling softly when she hears the rabbit family
that lives near her garden trying to sneak away. Since she lost her sight, her other
senses have become so finely tuned that her brother often teases her that she can hear the
sound of the worms tunneling through her garden.
Inside the House
Marcus, the woman's brother, stands at the window, silently observing his sister. He
cannot stop watching out for her, even though his constant attentiveness is a sore point
between them. He knows Teressa wants, and most importantly, can do, things on her own.
His mind drifts back to happier times.
Marcus and Teressa were the children of a wealthy landowner. Their father owned a very
successful winery. Their mother was an artist. Their lives were filled with many outings
and tales of travel. They read about wars and famine but had never experienced it. The
surrounding lands lived in peace.
The man at the window shuddered.
Everyone lived in peace until Traitorous entered the picture. He was said to be a very
wealthy landowner from across the great sea, and he quickly bought up parcels of land.
What he couldn't buy, he stole. Traitorous' army grew fierce and strong.
Marcus and his family watched in horror as the surrounding lands were pillaged and burned.
The town folk living there were killed or robbed and left with nothing.
Marcus's father knew that it was only a matter of time before Traitorous took their land.
He gathered the townsmen who lived on his land and tried to organize a defense. Marcus,
only 13 then, wanted to fight but his father said no. Marcus secretly made his own weapon.
Life for the family changed drastically. The manor house was now full of the townsfolk.
Food was scarce but spirits were high.
Marcus shook his head when he remembered how naïve they were. They really thought they
could defeat evil.
The attack came quickly at dusk. The warlord's army quickly drove down the townsfolk.
Houses burned and crops were ruined. Traitorous himself arrived at the manor house, so
boastful, so hateful. Marcus' father tried to reason with him, telling him he could have
the land, the house, and the artwork. He pleaded with Traitorous to let his family go
safely.
Traitorous demanded to see this precious family, and Marcus and Teressa were brought out
from where they were being hidden. Their mother ran to her husband's side. Traitorous
liked what he saw in Teressa. She was 16 and a beautiful young lady. He strode over to her
and stuck his finger under her chin, forcing her to look up at him. "I think I'll
keep you my pretty" he laughed. Teressa spat in his eyes! His hand moved so fast that
it was just a blur. He backhanded her across the face and she fell, hitting her head with
a thunk on the fireplace. "What a waste" Traitorous said as he turned her body
over with his foot and stuck his boot toe in the puddle of blood that streamed from her
head. With that he nodded his head and a guardsman thrust his sword through his father's
back. Marcus's mother's scream was quickly silenced as another guardsman's sword pierced
her heart.
Marcus grabbed his homemade sword and lashed out at the guards holding him. They laughed
at his feeble attempts and quickly knocked him down. As his word turn gray he watched
Traitorous and his men go through the room, knocking over statues, ripping paintings from
the walls, and setting it all on fire.
Marcus shook his head to clear it of the memory and looked around the tiny hut that he and
Teressa now called home. Scattered here and there were some small remnants of their former
life. A mug, their mother's bowl. Memories overtook him again.
Marcus came to coughing on the thick smoke. He quickly crawled over to his sister and
dragged her outside. His one thought was to bury his family together but the timbers of
the house collapsed before he could get back inside for his parents. He quickly hitched up
a small cart to a tired old horse that Traitorous' army had ignored, and gently wrapped
his sister in a blanket and placed her in the cart. Passing his mother's kiln, he stopped
and picked up the last items she was firing and he disappeared into the night.
Blinded by tears, wondering where he was going to bury his sister, wondering how he was
going to survive all alone, he almost didn't hear the tiny little moan that came from
Teressa. She moaned again, and Marcus stopped the horse. Kneeling next to her he called
her name but she didn't answer. His heart stopped as he pressed his fingers to her neck
and felt a weak, but steady pulse. "Teressa" he cried, "You're alive,
you're alive!" He piled the blanket more closely around here and searched for a place
to stop and rest. A 13-year-old boy grew up quickly that night.
The ringing of a bell brought Marcus back to the present and he hurried outside to
Teressa's side. She was standing next to the garden gate, the bell rope still in her hand.
Marcus had installed the bell so Teressa could summon him when needed. He took hold of her
hand as he approached and asked, "What is it Ter? What's the matter?"
"Someone is coming Marcus. I can hear them laughing." she replied.
Scanning the road, Marcus saw no one. Straining his ears, Marcus heard nothing, but
grabbed a shovel laying close by just in case. They didn't get many visitors living where
they did. After their long journey five years ago, they had settled in a remote part of a
small fishing village, in a little hut hidden by hills and overgrown brush. Marcus' one
hope was that Traitorous thought them dead and would not look for them.
Teressa's grip tightened and she whispered "They are closer now Marcus, can you see
them?"
Marcus looked up and down the path, and soon could see two figures in the distance. One,
he could tell, was taller than the other. Bursts of their laughter carried on the wind. As
they got closer Marcus could see that the smaller one was carrying a fishing pole.
"See Herc, civilization! I told you we weren't lost" Ioalus grinned as he
punched the big guy on his shoulder. "Greetings good people!" he called out and
waved his fishing pole around. "Are the fish biting? Know of any good fishing holes?
Turning back to his buddy he gave this manic little laugh and said "see, told you..
fresh fish tonight!"
Hercules stood still, staring at the couple, who were staring back at them. The woman was
one of the most beautiful he had seen in a long while. Her black hair was long and curly
and hugged her shoulders and back like a blanket. Even from a distance he could see that
her eyes were light in color and fringed with dark long eyelashes. Her skin was porcelain
white and he found himself wondering what she smelled like.
Iolaus looked from the couple to Herc, back to the couple, back to Herc. "Herc"
he whispered. "Herc!" Stomping on the big guy's foot seemed to have the desired
effect and Hercules shook his head as if he were coming out of a trance. "Close your
mouth Herc" Iolaus whispered. "What's wrong with you.. she's married!"
Regaining his composure, Hercules smiled widely at the couple and called out a greeting.
"Hello, beautiful country, can you spare a cup of water for two weary and lost
travelers?"
"We are not lost Herc!" Iolaus exclaimed so loudly that Teressa giggled.
"Marcus come! We have guests!" Teressa spun on her heels and headed for the
well. Marcus had no choice but to follow her.
By the time Hercules and Iolaus got to the well, Teressa had drawn out a cold bucketful of
water and had two cups waiting for them. "You must be hungry too" Teressa stated
as she went into the hut to prepare lunch.
The three men stood around the well, uncomfortably staring at each other.
"Now that was good water!" Iolaus stated as he loudly smacked his lips.
"Yes.. certainly cold enough" agreed Hercules.
"Would you like more?" Marcus asked, hand still on the shovel as he eyed Herc
and Iolaus.
"Listen buddy, we can tell you don't want us here, so we'll just drink our water and
get on our way" Iolaus said as he filled his cup up again. "We are just here
looking for a good fishing hole… haven't been able to fish in
a long while. Bought myself a new pole… the secret is in the bait ya know. Herc here
uses his hands (snickering)
"Herc? As in Hercules? Marcus asked.
Herc raised his eyebrows and looked at Iolaus.
"Yes, Herc as in Hercules" Iolaus retorted. "Its always Hercules.."
"Well, then, okay, welcome" Marcus babbled as he shook Hercules' hand up and
down. "Come in, come in, I'm sure Teressa has lunch ready."
Iolaus leaned his fishing pole up against the house and still muttering, followed Marcus
and Herc into the hut.
Teressa had set the table with fresh baked bread and vegetable stew. Herc and Iolaus sat
down and ravenously began to eat.
Grabbing the last piece of bread, Iolaus teased Herc about becoming an old maid and
Teressa laughed remembering her father saying the same thing to her. Quickly she got up to
get more bread and Iolaus slid his chair closer to Marcus. "So, just where are the
best fishing holes" he asked. Suddenly there was a crash behind him as Teressa
tripped over his chair, spilling the bread on the floor.
Marcus jumped up, as did Herc and Iolaus and as Herc knelt down to help Teressa up, he
noticed for the first time that her eyes were unseeing. He looked toward Marcus, who
nodded his head. Teressa, feeling what was going on, became very embarrassed and ran from
the hut.
Herc and Iolaus both looked at Marcus in confusion. Marcus, brushing off the bread, sat
back down and began "My sister"
"Your sister??" Herc and Iolaus both echoed.
"Yes, my sister" Marcus stated "Teressa. She has been blind for about 5
years now. She knows her way around the hut and the gardens and sometimes even I forget
she cannot see, but when she does make a mistake.. especially I think, in front of
strangers…well, it bothers her greatly. She didn't expect to find a chair in her
path".
"My chair?" Iolaus gasped, his face turning red. "I'm so sorry, I moved my
chair!"
Herc wiped his face with a cloth, pushed back his chair and mumbled "excuse me"
and left the hut. He wandered down a path until he came to a colorful flower garden. He
saw Teressa leaning against the fence. Quietly, or so he thought, he walked towards her.
"I hear you coming" she said. "Please go away".
Herc stopped, and put his arms out, thought of what to say, and then continued towards
her. He saw her shoulders shaking and he reached out and wrapped his arms around her,
drawing her slowly against him.
"Hush… shhhh… don't cry, please" he whispered, his lips against her
hair.
"I made a fool of myself" she cried.
"No…never... not a fool. Just the opposite. I didn't know…neither did
Iolaus, he's so sorry he moved that chair. Turn around, look at me…oh, what am I
saying??" Herc became so flustered. He gently turned Teressa around in his arms and
continued, "I'm sorry, please don't cry."
Teressa lay her head against his chest and listened to his heartbeat and she knew that
this was a very special man.
Later that day at a fishing hole
Iolaus just finished telling Herc about Marcus and Teressa's plight. Marcus had explained
to him that they traveled by night and hid during the day. Teressa slowly regained
consciousness but never her vision. And they've been living here, hiding ever since.
"No wonder he looked as if he was going to slap us with that shovel he was
holding" Iolaus continued, chewing on a blade of grass. "Like a shovel would
help against an army, right bud? Anyway, Marcus says it happened years ago. I bet that
Traitorous guy is long gone. Right Herc? Herc??" Iolaus looked at his friend who was
standing knee deep in the water holding a large trout in his hands. "Herc, you look a
little funny. Oh. no. don't tell me" Iolaus sighed.
Herc nodded.
"Lemme guess…Traitorous...you've heard of him?"
Herc nodded again.
"Man, and I thought you really wanted to forget about saving the world for a week, go
fishing, relax!" Iolaus pouted.
"Look Iolaus" Herc replied as he walked out of the fishing hole and dumped the
fish at Iolaus' feet, "I didn't tell you because I didn't know if the stories I heard
were true, and you wanted to come this way anyway, and I thought we could just check it
out AND get some fishing done." Herc wiped his hands on his pants and continued,
"I fought Traitorous years ago, but I heard he had resurfaced, and he is in this
area.
"Do you think he knows Marcus and Teressa are here?" Iolaus asked. But Herc had
left to find Teressa. "Are we EVER going to FISH together?" Iolaus mumbled as he
leaned back against a fallen stump. Kicking the fish Herc caught back into the water,
Iolaus mumbled "You're a little small fry…guess its up to me, AGAIN, to catch
dinner."
Herc saw Teressa standing in the middle of a small cleared plot of land, throwing crumbs
to her small flock of chickens. He stood a short distance away watching her. "Come
here Blackie" she called to a black chicken. "Off with you now Bully, let
someone else eat" she giggled as she gently guided a fat chicken away with her foot.
"Aphrodite, stop preening so!"
Herc laughed as he walked toward Teressa and asked "How do you do that?"
"Do what?" Teressa answered, her heart beating a little faster at the sound of
his voice.
"Know which chicken is which" Herc replied as he took some of the crumbs and
spread them around. "My sister would love to know she has a chicken for her
namesake!" he thought.
Teressa turned and Herc could swear she was looking right at him. "Its not hard.
Every living thing makes their own unique sound. I recognize those sounds now. Blackie,
she pecks in a certain pattern. Bully uses her wings to push the other chickens out of the
way. And I swear, I hear Aphrodite make kissing noises to herself!"
Herc roared with laughter.
"Come, I'll show you" Teressa said as she took Herc by the hand and led him to a
bench under a weeping willow tree. "May I?" she asked as she removed a scarf
from around her neck and held it up to his eyes.
Herc nodded.
Teressa ever so gently tied the scarf, covering Herc's eyes. "Okay, listen" she
said. "What do you hear?"
Herc, remembering the lessons the druids taught him, found it easy to focus his other
senses. "I hear birds calling, and bees buzzing. I hear the willow rustling in the
wind."
Teressa handed Herc a rose from her garden and asked him what he felt. Herc replied,
"The petals are soft, softer than anything I ever felt, but the thorns are sharp. And
the aroma…this flower smells like you Teressa." He grasped her hands and raised
them to his lips.
Teressa started lightly running her hands over Herc's face, feeling his face, imagining
how he looked. Her hands ran down his neck to his broad chest and when she heard his sharp
intake of breath, she quickly withdrew her hands. "I'm sorry…sorry" she
whispered.
Herc ripped the blindfold from his eyes and grasped her hands again. "Don't be sorry
little one. It felt, um, nice."
Teressa blushed and tried to get up but Herc wouldn't let her. "I.I know nothing of
this type of thing" Teressa faltered. "I. I'm 21 and I ."
Herc placed his finger over her lips and said "shhh, you are doing fine". He put
his hand behind her head and drew her closer to him. Gently he placed his lips to hers.
Her hands tentatively touched his shoulders, and as the kiss grew deeper, her arms wrapped
around his neck.
Dinner Time
Teressa was busy frying the fresh fish Iolaus had caught and Herc was making a nuisance of
himself in the cooking area trying to help her. She would laugh each time she would trip
over him and kept shooing him out of the area. Marcus sat at the table, confused. He
couldn't figure out why Teressa kept laughing at Herc. He was waiting for her to yell at
the big guy like she yells at him whenever he tries to help her. Iolaus, however, picked
up on the little touches and secret smiles that passed between Teressa and Herc.
Sleeping Outside
Although Marcus and Teressa insisted that Herc and Iolaus sleep inside the hut with them,
Herc and Iolaus refused and made a small fire outside.
"Good dinner, huh Herc?" Iolaus asked as he lay down and stared up at the stars.
"Nothing like fresh fish!"
"Uh huh" Herc replied staring at the hut.
Iolaus, leaning up on one elbow looking at his friend. "Herc. are you sure you're
doing the right thing? You seem to be falling awfully fast this time."
"I can't stop thinking about her Iolaus. It just seems so right this time. You know
the last thing I want to do is fall in love again, seems like everyone I love, dies.. but
when I'm with her..I dunno. it just feels so good." Herc threw some more sticks on
the fire. "Go to sleep little buddy, I'll take the first watch."
"First watch...you expect trouble then?"
Herc just looked at his friend.
Meanwhile, Traitorous indeed was nearby and causing trouble. His army, reduced to himself
and six motley cohorts, took delight in terrorizing small farms and houses.
The days passed sweetly for our friends. Iolaus fished so much that even he wanted
something different for dinner. Teressa and Herc spent every minute together and fell more
deeply in love. Marcus, poor Marcus. He finallyrealized what was happening between his
sister and Herc and wasn't quite sure what to do about it. He even approached the big guy
one night and quite seriously asked "What are your intentions regarding my
sister?" Teressa overheard, and chased him through the garden with the shovel while
Herc and Iolaus watched and laughed.
The four of them decided to go to market day and made the trip to the nearest village.
When they got there, they split up. Iolaus went with Herc to pick out something special
for Teressa. Marcus and Teressa sold their flowers and vegetables. While Marcus shopped
for supplies, Teressa decided to stroll through the stalls to look for a present for Herc.
Unbeknownst to Teressa, Traitorous was watching her from an alley way. He thought she
looked familiar. He got even more interested when he saw her brother walk up to her with a
full coin purse. He quietly gathered up his men from the bar room. Herc found the perfect
gift. It was a bracelet made of different colored stones. Iolaus kept calling it a
pre-wedding bracelet and Herc kept blushing. Herc asked Iolaus to find Marcus and Teressa
and tell them that they should start back to the hut and that he would catch up with them
in a bit.
Marcus and Teressa had no idea they were being followed. Teressa kept up a constant stream
of babble all the way home and Marcus could not help smiling with her. Teressa went into
the hut to start dinner and Marcus went to put some of the supplies away in their small
barn.
Teressa was standing with her back to the door slicing vegetables when she heard the door
being quietly opened. "Herc...is that you?" she asked. But a sudden chill passed
over her. Hiding the knife behind her back, she spun around and called out "Who is
it? Who is there?" An evil laugh answered her question.
"My my my.. look what we have here" Traitorous said as he knocked over the table
and grabbed Teressa who screamed for Marcus. Cuffing her on the side of her head,
Traitorous laughed again and yelled "Oh shut up, will you! Your Marcus was so happy
to see me. He gave me this!" Traitorous held up Marcus' full coin bag.
"Gave you what?" Teressa asked as she struggled to get away.
Traitorous looked at her closely and then grinned. "This is perfect. A perfect crime.
You cannot see. You do not know who I am." He brought his face closer to Teressa. She
could smell the sourness of his breath. She lashed out with the vegetable knife and caught
him in his left arm.
He bellowed with rage and once again backhanded her hard. As her head cracked against the
overturned table, Herc and Iolaus rushed in. Seeing Teressa fall, Herc was filled with a
blind red rage. He charged straight at Traitorous and body slammed him into the wall. Then
picking him up, he first swung him to the right, then to the left, and then threw him
through the wall.
Iolaus meanwhile was battling three of the henchman himself. Using one as a springboard,
he flipped through the air, catching the other two on their chins with his boots. Nimbly
landing behind them as they were falling, he took a broken board and smacked the back of
their knees. "Strike!" he yelled as he spun into the third henchman, dove in
between the man's open legs, and smacked him on the back of the head with the board. The
remaining henchmen took off.
Herc rushed to Teressa's side and gently lifted her into his arms. Tears streaming down
his face he whispered her name over and over. Iolaus stood quietly behind him, not knowing
what to do. Marcus stumbled into the hut and seeing Teressa, fell on his knees sobbing.
"Not again" he said. Oh please, not again."
48 hours later
Herc sat beside Teressa's cot silently watching her. He hadn't moved from this spot since
they had brought her here. His hair was raggedly, his skin dirty, and he had huge circles
under his eyes. Iolaus begged him to go outside, walk around, get some fresh air, but Herc
refused.
He held onto Teressa's hand and gently stroked her fingers. Suddenly he felt her squeeze
his hand. "Teressa?" he called kneeling close to her head.
"Teressa, do you hear
me?"
Teressa turned her head and slowly opened her eyes. She blinked.
"Teressa" Herc whispered.
"Sky blue" she said.
Herc looked at Teressa. Then he looked at Marcus who came running when he heard Herc talk
to Teressa. "Is she okay?" he mouthed.
"Sky blue" Teressa repeated. "Your eyes are so beautiful.. they remind me
of the color of a blue blue sky."
The end.
Disclaimer: No bunny families were hurt during the writing of this story, although a few
earthworms may have been squished.
