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Liz remembers the room, as stark and clear as the day she was locked within it.
Everytime she closed her eyes, four blank walls and a tiny barred window was all she could see. Wrists and ankles shackled to the barren ground, and the cold, the ever-present cold, was all she could feel. Falling asleep was even worse. Every night that passed was a year in her relived memories.
Time, space, the feeling of just being, it all blurred together whenever she awoke. Five, ten minutes of a delirium, begging to be free, to be free, to soar the skies like the little blue bird upon her windowsill. Arms wrap around her, strong and firm, and she struggles and struggles as she tries to escape the cruel soldier’s grip until she realizes. It is Margaret that is holding her, stroking her hair and whispering soothing reassurances into her ear, and within the crook of Margaret’s neck she leans in and sobs.
Time, space, the feeling of just being, it all blurred together whenever she awoke. Five, ten minutes of a delirium, begging to be free, to be free, to soar the skies like the little blue bird upon her windowsill. Arms wrap around her, gentle and caring, and she struggles and struggles as she tries to escape the apathetic soldier’s grip until she realizes. It is Shining that is holding her, stroking her hair and rocking her back and forth in a soothing motion, and against Shining’s shoulder she leans in and cries.
Time, it all blurs once more. Her and Shining wait for Margaret. Her and Margaret wait for Shining. Together they depart their rooms.
Today they work in the medical ward. Her and Shining see patient after patient, while Margaret brings them supplies, or food, or coffee. Here she works, here she heals, without the barking orders of some general, or the meaty thud of a body she was forced to heal. Their patients are polite, and leave with better bodies and sincere thank yous.
Today they are called upon for training exercises. Something simple for today, Instructor Whislash says, something to keep their skills from rusting. The alarum blares, and their training starts. The three of them are no strangers to war and battle. Their movement and decisions come to them instinctively and they finish training with a commendation from the Instructor.
Today, they are assigned to a simple escort operation. Protecting a transport of medicine and supplies as it heads towards a remote Sami village. Here, travelling, walking alongside Shining and Margaret, is a feeling all too familiar. The snow is heavy and cold, but they are equipped, and Margaret even drapes one of her cloaks over Liz. The mission is successful, and together they return to Rhodes Island, to a warm room, and a warm hearth.
And today, they have a free day. Upon Liz’s request, the three of them head to the Convalescence Garden. Together they chat mindlessly, as they pass by the various halls and rooms of Rhodes Island. They passed by the cafeteria, where a crowd had begun to gather as an Oni woman and a Vouvire woman were locked in an arm wrestling match. They passed by the Doctor’s office, where they were talking to an ever-familiar Cautus whose eyes and burden betrayed her age. They arrived at the Convalescence Garden, greeted Lena, and wandered amongst the plants and flowers. Liz sits by a pond at the edge of the greenhouse, and closes her eyes.
Here… she sees nothing. But hears and feels everything. The water slowly shifting in the pond and the splashes of the koi fish as they swam back and forth. There was the rustling of leaves and the buzzing of insects, and the sun on her skin, so warm, so light. And beside her, were Shining and Margaret’s voices. Liz didn’t know what they were talking about. But their voices, their presence, was enough for her to feel such a warm, encompassing emotion.
Here she falls asleep and dreams of taking flight across the blue skies, on wings supported by the love of the ones most dear to her, flying ever free without a care in the world.