Legends of Amacia Return of the Beowulf

A few minutes later, Hannibal came out the bathroom carrying Rachel. He donned a pair of slippers that looked like moccasins. “Is momma coming?” Rachel asked, seeing Selina still asleep in the bed.

“No,” Hannibal replied softly. “She’s still asleep. Let’s not wake her.”

“Is she okay?” Rachel asked in a worried tone.

“Selina’s just fine,” Hannibal stated. “Don’t worry. Chances are she’ll be awake by time we get back.”

“Okay,” Rachel said softly as Hannibal carried her to the Healer. Finding it vacant, Hannibal carried Rachel to the infirmary where they found Jacob, Rebecca, and Crystal. They were laying on three beds right next to each other. Rebecca and Jacob were asleep. Crystal, on the other hand, was sitting on her bed playing with a doll. She still had the splints on her leg and arm, but she was using her broken arm readily. When Hannibal and Rachel entered the infirmary, it still housed a number of patients from Hreidmar’s Bastion. Lola, Jessica, Emma, and Arabella were tending to the patients as they walked in. Emma suddenly noticed them and came to greet them.

“Ah, Hannibal, how are you this fine morning?” Emma asked pleasantly. “And how are you, little one?”

“Good, Emma,” Hannibal replied as he stopped in front of her. Rachel was bashful and remained silent.

“She’s still a little shy, isn’t she?” Emma commented, noticing Rachel’s look.

Hannibal nodded, replying, “Yes, she is, which a result of her ordeal in the dungeons. It’s making it hard for her to open up to anyone except us.”

“That’s because we’ve been there for her,” Emma stated, smiling warmly at Rachel. “She’s our little angel.”

“That she is,” Hannibal agreed, “But she is still shy and fearful of the other children her age. She’s scared they’ll make fun of her.”

“Oh, I see,” Emma stated. “I can understand that. I felt the same way when you brought the people of Arionath, Cushar, and Cimmeria here initially. It was strange to see so many different people, but I eventually found out they’re not all that bad. You should take a chance on the other children, Rachel. They’re not as bad as you may think.”

“Are you sure?” Rachel asked bluntly. “I’m not sure I’m ready to do that.”

“You don’t have to make friends of all of them,” Emma stated. “Just make friends one at a time. In fact, many of the children have asked about you, Rachel. They’re curious about you, and some want to be your friend.”

“See, Rachel,” Hannibal chimed. “You should give them a chance. In fact, this works out perfectly because I came to see Jacob and his family. Where are they? I want Rachel to meet Crystal since they are the same age.”

Emma waved her hand, saying, “Over here. Follow me.” They followed Emma over to Jacob and his family.

By time they got there, Arabella, Jessica, and Lola were checking on them. Arabella was sitting on the bed with Crystal, checking her broken limbs to see that they were healed properly. Lola and Jessica then noticed Hannibal and Rachel as they walked up with Emma. “Oh, hello,” Lola called out as she checked Rebecca. “I’d like to thank you again for rescuing us when you did.”

Hannibal nodded, saying, “The pleasure was all mine. I see you’ve found your niche here. This job suits you well, Lola. You have such an empathic and sympathetic spirit. Do you like what you’re doing?”

Lola rose after finishing with Rebecca, saying as she walked up to Hannibal and Rachel, “Yes. It makes me feel like I’m doing something worthwhile.” She reached out and touched Rachel on the stump of her left arm, asking, “I remember when we first saw you, Rachel. I’m so happy to see that you are doing better. How do you feel?”

Rachel looked at Lola with some hesitation, saying, “I’m all right I guess. I can’t do much with what you left me.”

Hannibal heard the barb and gently scolded Rachel, saying, “Don’t talk like that. If they could have saved your arms and legs, they would have. It’s not their fault just as it is not your fault that those devils in the dungeons did what they did to you.”

“I’m sorry,” Rachel replied glumly.

“There’s no need to apologize, Rachel. Had I been in your place, I probably would have said the same thing,” Lola said with a broad, pleasant smile that melted Rachel’s icy demeanor. Rachel actually cracked a smile and Lola laughed pleasantly, saying, “What is that I see...a smile?” Rachel laughed softly as Lola looked her in the eye saying, “Don’t you worry. Hannibal will find you some arms and legs, even if he has to make some for you. Come here. I’ve got someone I’d like you to meet.” Lola led them over to Crystal’s bed as Arabella got up. Hannibal and Rachel startled her.

“Geeze; you did it again! Don’t sneak up on me like that!” Arabella scolded.

Hannibal chuckled, asking, “How is she?”

“Much better; the broken bones were healed by the machine but the limbs are still weak and very sensitive.” Arabella said as she turned back to Crystal, saying, “Honey. I want you stay off that leg for a couple more days, all right?”

Crystal nodded, asking, “Can you get me something to eat? I’m hungry.”

Arabella smiled and said, “Of course, my dear. Look here who has come to visit.” Arabella motioned to Hannibal and Rachel. Crystal hadn’t even noticed them.

Crystal’s mouth fell open in surprise. “Hannibal!” she cried out with exuberance. “You came to see me!” Hannibal looked down at Crystal, saying, “I had to. You’re my friend. Do you know Rachel?”

Crystal looked at Rachel as Hannibal sat Rachel down next to her on the bed. “I adopted Rachel,” he stated. “She’s my daughter now.”

Crystal and Rachel looked at each other as Hannibal stood back a couple of steps with Emma, Lola, and Jessica. Crystal and Rachel stared at each other without saying a word. Hannibal could immediately sense that a bond was forming between them. Crystal finally said “Wow. Is that the miracle hand I heard about?”

Rachel looked at her hand, saying, “Yes. It is.”

“Can I touch it?” Crystal asked and Rachel looked at Hannibal with hesitation.

“It’s all right, Rachel. She’s not going to hurt you,” Hannibal said plainly. Hesitantly, Rachel held her hand out and Crystal felt the flesh and bone with awe.

“Wow. You sure are lucky,” Crystal said with amazement. She looked at Rachel’s stumps and asked, “Does it hurt?”

Rachel was unsure of what she was asking so she asked back, “Does what hurt?”

Crystal pointed with her good arm to Rachel’s left arm, saying, “That. Does it hurt?”

Rachel shook her head no as Crystal asked, “Can I touch it?”

Again, Rachel looked at Hannibal and he nodded that it was all right. He could sense her fear as Crystal reached out and felt the stump. “Wicked! This is so neat,” Crystal exclaimed with amazement. Crystal suddenly locked eyes with Rachel for several moments before reaching out, putting her hand on Rachel’s shoulder saying, “You’re different, but I like that. Will you be my friend? I don’t have many friends. They think I’m weird because of who I am.”

“Why is that?” Rachel asked, hit totally off guard by what Crystal said. It reminded her of what Hannibal said about his childhood before coming to the infirmary.

“I’m different,” Crystal stated bluntly. “I see things that no one else can see and know things about people. They think I’m a freak because of it. I don’t know why I can do these things, just that I can.”

Hannibal raised an eyebrow as he glanced at Emma. He squatted down in front of Crystal and asked, “Crystal, how long have you been able to do these things?” She looked at Hannibal and he carefully opened a small portion of his mind to her, calling out telepathically, Can you hear me, Crystal?

Crystal’s eyes became like saucers and sparkled like stars in the sky. She began to shake as tears of joy filled her eyes. “Oh, my gosh, you understand me!” she cried out to Hannibal.

Hannibal smiled and nodded knowingly as he took her by the hand. “Yes, Crystal; I do,” he replied. “You and I are not all that different. May I tell you why you are an outcast?” Crystal nodded with great anticipation on her face. She was finally going to get an answer for her unexplained abilities. “Crystal, you are a telepathic seer. You cannot only see what’s in other people’s minds, but you have that rare gift of being able to see the past and future in certain circumstances. Tell me, did you see your fall from the pyramid before it happened?” he asked.

Tears gushed out of Crystal’s eyes. “Yes! Oh, yes I did!” she cried. “I dreamed it that very morning! When dad told us we were going to climb the pyramid, I tried to keep him from going, but he thought my fear was just a fear of heights or something and he forced me to go, even after I told him the dream. He made light of it, saying that it wasn’t anything to worry about.”

Hannibal nodded solemnly, saying, “So you see it in dreams then.” Rachel was stunned as Hannibal talked with Crystal about her gifts.

“Yes,” Crystal sobbed. “Why did this have to happen to me? I....”

Hannibal sat on the edge of the bed and put a consoling arm around the little girl, saying, “There’s no why, Crystal. You’re asking the very same question I’ve been asking myself all my life. The only solace that I get is that the Almighty has His hand on all things, even on old men and little girls. He has given you a great gift which means He has a great purpose for your life.” He took his hand and lifted her chin so she could look him in the face. “It’s tough enough being telepathic. Believe me, I know and so does Selina. But you are just awakening telepathically. You do not have the skill, or the discipline to deal with it yet. That’s where we shall help you. Selina and I are highly disciplined and skilled telepaths as are Kida, Nathanael, even Muriel and Josephine. Even Argus and Aeolus are powerful telepaths, much more so than any of us are. We have the knowledge and teachers to help you master the gift. We can teach you to control the telepathy so that you can have a somewhat normal life if you want.”

“You’d do that for me?” Crystal asked with tears in her eyes.

Absolutely, Hannibal replied telepathically. “With the proper training and discipline, I can see you becoming a powerful telepath like Selina and I. The Almighty singled you out for this gift.”

“But what if I don’t want it?” Crystal asked pointedly.

“Our God is not going to force you to use it,” Hannibal stated. “That is not His way. He is not like the Emperor who will force you to do things. The Almighty has given you this ability because in His infinite knowledge and wisdom, He knew that you would use it to bring glory to Him. But if you don’t want it, then He can take it away and give it to another. The question I have for you is this: do you want to keep it or do you want him to take it away?” The question was a moot point because Hannibal knew what the answer was going to be.

Crystal looked into Hannibal’s eyes with a pleading look. She really didn’t know what to do. The gift had not only alienated her from her friends, but had actually scared her because she didn’t know how to apply it. However, she felt in her heart that the gift was now part of her like an arm or leg. It made her feel special and she liked it. “I can’t let it go,” she finally said. “I feel like it’s part of me. It’s like there’s a part of me that has been asleep and now it’s waking up. Can you help me use it so that it doesn’t scare me?”

Hannibal smiled, saying, “Of course, Crystal. You’re fortunate because you’ve received it at such a young age. Your mind is still malleable and teachable. We will teach you the ways of the telepath. As for your dreams, only the Almighty can help you with them. But be not afraid. He will. Now, I sensed that you have bonded to Rachel somewhat. This is good. Rachel has no friends or blood kin left. Selina and I are her parents now. She needs a friend who will not tease or torment her because the way she is.”

Crystal looked over at Rachel, who now had tears running down her cheeks. She smiled at Rachel and reached out to her, saying, “A pair of oddballs we are. I know what it is like to be teased, and tormented. I will do nothing to hurt you in any way. Will you be my friend, Rachel?”

Rachel broke down, sobbing, “I’ve never had a friend, a true friend.”

Crystal slid over close to Rachel and hugged her. “Well, now you do,” Crystal said with her good arm around Rachel. Rachel returned the hug with tears and sobs of joy. “Would you like to see my dolly?” Crystal asked Rachel. Hannibal got up with a smile as Crystal picked up her doll and handed it to Rachel. She handled it gingerly with wonder. Hannibal walked over to Emma and Jessica. Arabella and Lola had moved on, checking more of the patients.

Emma patted Hannibal on the shoulder as they watched the two girls finally let their guards down to each other. “You never cease to surprise me, brother,” Emma stated. “You may have done more for Rachel by bringing her here than you could have ever done any other way. Just look at them. This is the first time I’ve seen Rachel actually act her age. She is actually happy.”

Hannibal nodded, saying, “That she is. A friend her own age is what she needed more than anything else: someone her age to relate to.”