The campfire danced in the night, radiating warmth to the small band of travelers that were Colby, Theo, Faolán and Odhrán. Theo snored, letting his protective instinct take over him even in sleep as he wrapped his arm around Faolán and Colby. Unable to sleep, Colby lay there, looking up to the stars as many thoughts and memories flooded him.
Do you really think you could make up so fast? Alastar's voice echoed in his mind,
To atone for your sins, recognize your family was in league with evil, and they cursed you to be like them. But I'm here to help set you free. To free you from the same fate they suffered.
Colby cringed, shutting his eyes, waiting for sleep's spell to take hold. Yet Alastar's words haunted him. Colby flinched, as though the words flogged him, and he was a poor prisoner writhing in pain. He opened his eyes in frustration, sitting up.
He glanced to see Odhrán in meditation, keeping vigil over him, Theo, and Faolán. He shuddered in his presence, for he was always wary of whom Alastar "warned" him of.
"Hello, young brother! It's not very often I see you, nor the others here," Odhrán greeted.
Colby quaked in fear. The word, "beware" rang in his head. Odhrán spent years in a cave, and those who come out are different men. Forces of evil lurk in the darkness, and take hold of the hermit's mind, leading him to wickedness. It was always best to stay in the light, for no demon tolerates those who do.
"Young brother, what's wrong?" Odhrán asked, noticing Colby petrified, "I don't bite."
Colby's heart ran for its life, his breath quickened. He whimpered, tears welling in his eyes. Now Odhrán was set on his target, ready for the kill. Colby shuffled his feet, ready to dash.
"Are you okay?" Odhrán asked again, his voice like calming lavender.
"MASTER! HELP!" Colby cried. Evil was out to get him, just like what his master Alastar said.
"Uh- really, I won't hurt you at all," Odhrán consoled, yet startled by the apprentice's scream. Alastar rushed in to Colby's aid, putting on the image of a warrior defending the weak.
"Odhrán, I should have known," Alastar snarled, "You. Colby. To the tower. Now!"
Colby scampered away like a rabbit fleeing from a fox. Curiosity striking him, he hid behind a wall, hearing the argument that ensued.
"Why does he run in fear?" Odhrán remarked, directing a cold stare to Alastar.
"Because of people like you," Alastar snapped, keeping the brave warrior image, aware that Colby was still here.
"Perhaps you mistreat him," Odhrán retorted.
"Don't tell me how to raise him!" Alastar barked, "He is being brought to righteousness, unlike you."
Colby looked on at Odhrán, who sat still, looking as though he fell under sleep's spell. A smile stuck to his face. Alone in a grove, four travelers having the time of their lives, on a journey to an old village, and two of them fast asleep, satisfied with their day. What joy.
Odhrán was the one who arranged the trip. He had to be given credit for that. Alastar wouldn't have done so. Instead, he covered up the truth. Faolán and Theo came along to support their friend, and to find adventure. But Colby came for what actually happened so many years ago, looking to know his past, and therefore himself. His chest swelled, a deep appreciation for Odhrán formed.
"Brother Odhrán?" Colby mewed.
"Hm?" Odhrán replied, waking up from being half asleep.
"I just want to say thank you," Colby murmured, then he sighed, letting a tear roll down his cheek, "It was all my fault for being afraid of you. I was so gullible. I just didn't- ...I'm so sorry."
Colby bowed his head, weeping. All these emotions he kept to himself in his room, only breaking down when Alastar would walk out of the door, heading to his duties. Now he could finally show someone how he felt and thought throughout all this time without the fear of being ridiculed. Odhrán sat patiently, waiting for the last sniffle Colby gave.
"Young brother, I was once at a situation like yours. I was a beggar before I joined the monastery. I would do anything to get a scrap of bread, or if I was lucky, a piece of fruit. And... a gang thought they could make use of that...," Odhrán said, wrapping his arm around Colby, "They made me do horrible things in exchange for a small scrap. And if I didn't meet their expectations, they'd... well to put it bluntly, they'd beat me. It was like that for a long time, until I escaped. Then I met Brother Llewelyn, God rest his soul, who saved me from this mess. As strange and mad he was, his madness came with wisdom. And one of the first things he said to me when I joined was, 'It was never your fault for being in that situation.'"
Colby smiled faintly. Alastar wasn't going to control him anymore. When tomorrow comes, he'll learn about himself, and rejoice in having a new family that cares enough to see his own past. Everything will be alright.
"Now," Odhrán yawned, making a bed in the leaves and grass, "It's getting late, we have a big day tomorrow."
Colby lay down, once again looking at the stars. This time, any word Alastar said seemed petty as Colby's eyes grew heavy, falling asleep to the sounds of crickets chirping and to the sight of the moth holes in the cloak of the night sky.
-Had fun with writing the story and drawing the screenshot. Odhrán and Colby were at bad terms, but they reconcile along the journey to Colby's home village, seeing both sides of their story.
The Secret of Kells (c) Tomm Moore
