To Find the Truth (airborne w/new title) Chapter 22 (Please, please read!)

22

            I turned to see the knights pouring out of the citadel, armed and shining from the wall of fire beside us.  I turned to Lance, an expression of fear on my face.  There was only one word that made its way through my head at that moment: war.  I glanced at the knights one last time before rushing the other direction to our army, ignoring my shoes as blisters began to make their appearance.  I got halfway there before I remembered something, something important; my father.

“Father!”  I shouted as I turned on my heel, running toward the crouched figure on the ground.  Knights began swarming closer and closer to my father and I; I tried to drown my fearful thoughts with my frantic words, “Father get up!  Hurry!  Please!”  I bent down beside him, grabbing his arm as gently as my trembling hands could manage.  I lowered my voice, “The knights are coming quickly, we must move!”  I gripped my father’s arms, trying to get him to move, but he was hardly making an effort.  I couldn’t stop a tear from running down my cheek as I glanced toward our army and saw them running our way.  Running to help.  To risk their lives. 

My father looked up at me, his eyes sparkling.  “Father, what’s happened to you?  What could you possibly have done to injure yourself so severely?” 

He took a deep breath before saying, “Elvia, I am not sure why I am feeling so much pain but...”  He grimaced as a wave of pain traveled through his legs and up his torso.  “The pain is enormous in my shins and ankles... I cannot move them.”

My lip trembled as sobs racked my throat.  My father was paralyzed from his waist down.  “But, how can this happen?  Why now?  That’s impossible...”

“El,” I looked up, startled.  He hadn’t called me El for a so long.  “It is not a surprise to me.  For a long time, the bones in my legs have become brittle.  More so than most.  I had this coming sooner or later.”

“What?!  Why didn’t you tell me this?  Did you think you had to hide it?  And now it’s cost you your legs...  and in the middle of war!  Father what were you thinking...”  My voice trailed off and tears streamed down my cheeks.

“Elvia please, you can...”

I cut him off, “We have to get you somewhere safe!  Let me find Lance, he’ll help me!”  I made the move to get up but my father gripped my hands.

My father motioned to the ring of men around us, keeping us safe.  “Let these men help me.  Stay safe.  Go.”                   

Reluctantly, I stood and broke through the circle of fighters, the fiery wall my only light as smoke filled the air, and I ran to find my love.