ELEVENTH CHAPTER:

---Crispin’s POV---

            As soon as everyone left, I was beside her and wiping her forehead with a tissue. I could hear Sarah snickering and just knew Ericson was rolling his eyes as he moved to the privacy curtain and pulled in to cover us all. I knew Sarah was sitting in the seat behind me, to keep me from sitting there, not like I was. I just sat on her bed facing her.

            “Ok blockhead move. I want to see her as well as talk with her.” Sarah demanded as she jabbed me in the back continuously. If it was anyone else, I would have punched them, but she had earned her place in my heart, and I did care about her. For that I moved back so she could slide the chair closer, but I never let go of Meri’s hand.

            Yes, it was her left hand that was bandaged, but I wasn’t worried about hurting her. Earlier when we were waiting to see her and while the nurses were distracted, I had sneaked into her room. It was hard to see her in that state but not new for me, I just moved fast and quickened the healing process on her wounds and fractures. It won’t happen instantly, most likely tomorrow afternoon or in 2 days but no one will question it, as Ericson is also working on getting her discharged tomorrow. Though I am worried about her going to that terrible house. She needs to come with us.

            “Hello Meri, I am Sarah Hawthrone.” Sarah utters breaking the ice and getting a laugh out of her. I just loved her laugh. It was always the same no matter what era or her nationality.

            “Yes, I know and I’m Merida.” She answers while giggling but before we can say anything she utters, “and your Crispin, her twin brother. I remember you from before the car and I think I heard your voice when I was unconscious. And your Ericson Solace. You…” she starts to say but stops to think. *How do I phrase this?*

*Just say it girl. Cry is listening to us. So, just say it!* It’s the strange voice I have been hearing. I should know who it is, but she has never said her name, so I have no clue who it could be.

“I’m not sure how I know you, but I do. I hope you understand.” She finishes before I can question her as she looks at the wall behind me. Though she doesn’t look at me, I can see the tremble in her body and know she’s questioning everything. That’s the thing, my liege is the only person I can’t read. I mean I can hear this conversation but not her inner thoughts. I can ignore or cut other’s thoughts so to give them privacy but there is also the King. Well, he is my liege’s father so I must give him my upmost respect. So, I purposely cut his connection and avoid his eyes, unless he asks me to listen in.

“Meri, I know this is not the place or how we planned to meet you. But we have been eager to see you for the past few months. Though I can now see how weird all of this is after hearing myself speak.” Ericson starts to say but stops as her head snaps to him.

I rub her leg and gently squeeze her hand. That causes her to snap to me.

*WHAT? What are they talking about? Can I trust them?* She asks the voice.

*Girl, they never mean you any harm.*

*A lot of people don’t mean harm but instead get someone killed. CAN I TRUST THEM NADIA? * She fires back at…. wait

“Nadia!” I basically jumped off the bed and far from her.

“Crispin you idiot.” Sarah says as she chastises me. “Meri don’t worry about lug head. He doesn’t know when to stop eavesdropping. And yes we were nearby to meet you. In fact, we have been looking for you for just under a year.” Sarah spiels as a means to calm her, while I remind myself that this is all part of the process. Ericson is now sitting on the bed behind her and just rubbing her shoulders. It looks so natural that you never would have guessed that they just met. She actually looks relaxed and at ease. Then again Ericson is like an uncle to her in the past and well Sarah just has that motherly effect on everyone.

“Last year in January, numskull over there, heard your call for help. But that was all. He was going crazy with anger and worry that he could not help you or even find you. Let alone see if you were ok.” Just as Sarah said numskull, she looked to me. The fear in her eyes had me at her side again and I was holding her hand again.

“I’m sorry about my reaction earlier. I was just surprised to hear that name. But if you’re ok with her then so am I. I wish I had been the person to save you last year and today as well as…” I stop to get a breath I don’t need to say the next part, and I don’t get to as Sarah has put her hand on my lips to stop me from talking any further.

“This is a lot to take in after the ordeal you have been through, so we are going to stop here and let you voice your concerns or ask any questions you have. Unless you want to rest, then we are going to our corners and let you rest.” Sarah delivers and pushes me to get up.

“You’re not going to go home?” she asks, looking at each of us as we move to give her space.

“Sweetie, we just watched you get hit.” Ericson conveys as he pats her shoulder again. “We are not going anywhere. Please understand this is for your protection and our peace of mind.” He nods then drags a seat that was nearby closer and sat down. “Do you have any questions my little questor?”

I see her smile and smile I in turn and lean against the foot of the bed. Sarah adjusts the inclination of the bed into a more natural laid back then the sitting straight up position, Miguel had put it at.

“So, am I someone important?” she asked but just as Erickson opened his mouth. “Wait, you heard my call for help last year, so are we connected in some way?” She had a lot of questions, which Ericson did anticipate and was willing to hear them all out. I just watched knowing she was ok for the moment, and I would be there to protect her from now on.

“So, do I have a power, or maybe an ability? No wait, I am destined to change the world. Or am I the key to unlock a lost treasure or a kingdom! Or is it more like…”

“Ok ok, let’s slow down and I’ll help with some of your questions.” Ericson replied as he raised his hands to stop her mid question. “Ok with your first question, yes you are especially important. In fact, you have a family member that will give you the details and further information that I really don’t have. So please wait for them to approach you.”

“I… I h…have a family me…” she stutters as she whispers to Nadia. *Is this for real? Um, am I actually learning about a family member like this?*

*Girl, you should talk with them. Hello Cry!* Nadia responds. I instinctively wave at her, which causes her to gawk at me.

“So, I take it someone said Hi and you reacted without thinking that’s a voice and she’s not here physically.” Sarah berated me as I rubbed my head and looked away.

“Yeah, yeah I know sis.” I’ll try to remember that from now on.

“Wait! Does he do that a lot?” Meri asked as she looked at Ericson and Sarah. “Just respond like someone spoke out loud instead of thinking about it.”

“As I have said in the past few minutes, he is a lug head, numskull, blockhead that has no clue how the world works. And that is after remembering the millions of years he has been on this planet before dying and becoming my twin.” Sarah clarifies and then realizes her words. She snaps her head to me then to Meri.

Meri’s light blue eyes are saucers as she stares at us in turn. Well, there goes the night and easing her into everything.

“Now Merida look at me.” Ericson demands and waits as she looks him in the eyes. “There is a lot to talk about but it’s late and you still need to rest. We will talk more tomorrow. Just lay back and get some sleep.” He switched off the lamp and started lowering her head more. Meri actually looked sleepy as he did it and closed her eyes not too long after.

At that point he waved us away from her. Sarah went to the cot in the corner of the room and got on her cellphone. Most likely she was texting Steven and telling him everything that happened. My cell phone beeped, just about proving me correct. Only it wasn’t our older brother but mother. She wanted me to hold back and wait for the king.

Realizing that I might have overstepped I moved to the window to take up guard there. Ericson had already gotten clearance for us to stay here, so we weren’t worried about nurses or staff questioning our presence, we just had to act normally. Like moving every so often or changing positions.

Ericson and I had agreed he would stay by her bed, and I would wonder about the room, so no one noticed that we didn’t move as much. Well actually Ericson was more human than us and would most likely be asleep on the couch bed that was across from her bed and in front of the door. While Sarah and I would move around the room or take turns sleeping. So that we could watch everyone coming in and ensure her safety.