Blood on her hands (Sammie)

Crossover between Valan and Sammie and Steve, who comes to talk with them about Caitlin.

Setting: Castle Castamere, the Ashlands Vvardenfell Morrowind 4E 201 2:17 AM

It's late, or I guess very early in the morning one could say. The castle is relatively quiet at this time of night. All the cooks and servants have gone to bed, as have the diplomats, and all the rest, save for the guards who somehow ended up on night duty...poor sods. Then I hear a noise, like a knocking sound. I turn over and tap Valan on the shoulder, he's still asleep. Now, wait a minute, "why are you two sleeping in the same bed???" Well it takes a bit of explanation, basically my bed broke, literally one of the legs snapped because it was really old, and it was either here or sleep on the floor, put a bunch of pillows as a barrier and it's not much different. He smacks my hand away and that process repeats until he opens his eyes and turns over "what?" His eyes even more clouded with the remains of sleep but the red color becoming more apparent, like a regular dark elves eyes. "I heard a noise." I say sitting up crossing my legs, "it was probably just the pipes, or something like that." Then the noise repeats a second time, knock knock knock. "There it was again!" I point towards the door, the castle is a pretty simple layout for the main section, Val's room is a straight shot one floor above the main door at the end of the hall. We throw back the covers and slip on pairs of shoes and go to investigate, Valan grabs his cane from over next to his desk, then opens the set of doors that lead to the main upstairs hallway. We quietly creep through it careful to not make much sound as our feet pad against the marbled floor, then make our way down the stairs at the end, and come out near the main door. It's a large door made of mahogany wood with metal fixtures to pull them open and a knocker in the shape of Nerevars crest, a moon and star, as that was what he was called. It takes both of us to pull the door open, and the person it revels was altogether unexpected. It's Steven "Steve" Lowell, a friend of ours from the blocky world called Minecraft. What is he doing here? Steves dressed in his usual clothing, and is holding some kind of ACC device. "Hello." The device says in its monotone voice. Valan and I glance at each other before looking back at him "Steve?" Valan asks looking at him with a puzzled look. "Yes." We move out of the way and let our guest come inside out of the ash. He stands before us motionless, waiting. "Why are you here?" I ask as we begin to walk down the hall and enter one of the meeting rooms. Steve looks on his device for the right words "I'm here to talk about-" he types and then says himself with a sigh "Caitlin" he looks sad, not like he was before, enthusiastic and sociable, he's changed. "What about Caitlin? Is she alright?" Steve goes to type something, then looks up at us, he can't find the right words. Valan stands up and opens the door "hang on a second I have something that might be a bit more useful." And leaves the room coming back with his tablet. He had a rather severe speech delay, and communicated between ACC and Sign Language, also needing to use it because his best friend, Tiggs, a Redguard, is Deaf. "This is my ACC, it has both preset words and a keyboard so you can type out the word if it's not there. Try it." And hands Steve the tablet. "Caitlin is sick, she has anemia. From cutting herself. Sometimes I'll come home to find her sitting alone, with a knife next to her on the table...and blood on her hands." Our eyes widen, oh no. That's not good, that's not good at all. Steve continues "between her and me and Landon and Andrew and Mark and Alex and everyone else it's too much. Why should I be the hero, I don't deserve it all I did was kill a dragon!" Steve goes between typing and saying the points of his conversation. "I'm sorry, Steve. For everything you have to deal with. If you ever need us, we'll answer. We promise." I say and Valan nods. "And I know how you feel, about how you think you don't deserve to be the hero. I sometimes look around at other people who are obviously a lot stronger, or more qualified in most areas than I am. Until Azura pops into my head and is like 'Valan Velothi I swear to god I chose you for a reason not that person, or that one, and you have what you have for reasons too!' Yeah things can suck when you have disabilites and shit but it also gives you qualities unfound in others. Resilience, strength, intelligence, heightened senses, the ability to adapt. And many many more. And like what Sam said, if you ever need anything, Anything at all, notify us and we'll help in any way we can. Your not alone Steve. Neither is Caitlin. Even if it feels that way." Steve laughs at the part about Azura and thanks us sincerely. I run quickly and get him some bandages and things to help Caitlin. It's nearly 5:00 by now, we walk Steve back to the door, and before he leaves Valan installs the ACC app of his on Steves phone, and gives him our contacts. Steve leaves the castle and then passes through the gate, in the distance we can see a purple portal glimmering in the night, swirling and then a flash of light, and Steve, and the portal are gone. We head up to the tower, one of our secret spots, unknown to most, there's a door in the floor, a bit like the Moondoor, though it only leads to a pool below, we sit swinging our legs back and forth, sitting either in silence, or bursting out laughing as one of us either makes a joke or says something stupid or just hilarious. We pass the hours, looking out the window, seeing the sun rise to the east, coming up behind Red Mountain, giving the light a red streak. I think back to Caitlin, silent and suffering. Blood on her hands.

The end...

I wanted to write and I'm sleep deprived, still.

Until next time,
Max