Milluda's Quest for Revival

"Now that," he said, "was a grand party."

"You should have seen the one we had when my brother was born." She grinned and kissed him. "I'll get us some tea."

The kitchen was cold and dark.

Wiegraf opened his eyes and looked around. The moonlight from the window spilled across the floor in a thin path that cut through the dust and cobwebs. He frowned and sat up, scratching his chest with swollen fingers. His head felt heavy, as if it were filled with mud.

He climbed out of bed and shuffled to the kitchen.

"Milady?" he called out, "dear one? Are you there?" He fumbled for the lamp on the table, but couldn't find it. He paused and looked at his hands--they were small and delicate. Why are they so...so...feminine? He touched his face--it was soft and smooth, like hers. And her hair! It's been years since I've had such soft hair! Wiegraf sighed with happiness as he stroked his long black locks. Well, well, well. This is mighty peculiar. At least I'm not dead. If I were dead I wouldn't be thinking about how nice my hair is. Or how pretty my hands are. Or how soft my skin is...

Wait--what? What happened last night? Wiegraf tried desperately to remember anything that might help explain his situation, but nothing came to mind. A rush of panic rose quickly within him as he tried to make sense of everything that was happening to him; after all, looking at himself now, he certainly didn't look like your average soldier who fought for God and country against the evil spawn of Hell itself!

His thoughts were interrupted by a loud knocking on the door. He froze where he stood and listened carefully as footsteps sounded in the hall outside their bedroom door. A moment later someone knocked again at the front door of their tiny cottage, this time more forcefully than before. Wiegraf took another moment to compose himself before walking into the front room to answer it. As he crossed into the moonlit room he could smell something burning; the smell made him nauseous, but before he could investigate it further a loud crash sounded from behind the door followed by a scream of pain and anger: "Aye! Open up! We know you're in there!"

He recognized the voice instantly--it belonged to Algol, leader of God's Warriors in Aldegrange village--and judging by the way it sounded right now there was no doubt in his mind that Algol was angry enough to kill anyone who got in his way at this moment! *What do I do?!* Wiegraf thought frantically while trying to keep calm at the same time; whatever just happened last night must have either made me an enemy of God or Algol would try to kill me regardless of what I did! Forcing himself to act naturally Wiegraf slowly walked towards the door and opened it slowly; there were three men standing outside on their doorstep glaring angrily at him: Algol was pointing a sword directly at his chest; next to him stood Felaryan with a large axe held firmly in both hands--the man's face was twisted with rage as if preparing for battle; finally there was Donner holding onto Algol's back with both arms wrapped around him securely like a leech hoping its host wouldn't die soon enough for it to find another meal somewhere else!

*That little bastard has never liked me.* Wiegraf thought grimly as Donner nodded at him with a smirk on his face--he knew that expression all too well! Donner hated him because their first encounter ended in Donner losing an eye after Wiegraf punched him in it for calling Milady an ugly whore--even though he probably wasn't wrong about that...

*What did I do?* Wiegraf asked himself desperately while watching them closely; whatever it was must have been bad enough for them to attack him like this without even giving him a chance to explain himself! Maybe they were just here to finish what they started during last night's party? But why hadn't they killed him then? Hadn't they wanted this village free of disgusting monsters like me?

*I don't think we can talk our way out of this one.* He decided finally; taking a deep breath Wiegraf clenched his fists tightly until his knuckles turned white--he knew what had to be done now more than ever--before striking quickly and mercilessly like a hungry hawk diving straight towards its prey while screaming "For God!" as loudly as possible!

*Well...* With a sigh Wiegraf closed his eyes tight so not even a sliver of light could reach them anymore; for just an instant he thought about Milady upstairs sleeping peacefully under her blanket--she'd understand why he had to do this, although she probably wouldn't approve... After all it seemed she did share some qualities with her brother after all...nothing wrong with being prepared for anything though.*Let's get this over with.*