#renfis

He leaned in to get a better look at the contents of your basket. It was full with all kinds of herbs and flowers all bundled up by strings. “I think the healer’s been using you as her assistant.”

“She’s not a healer, she’s a witch. And I don't mind being her assistant as long as she lets me take notes.” One by one, you carefully unpacked the bundles you’d collected all morning.

“So long as the assistant to the witch doesn’t forget to take care of herself.” Carrion retorted, looking you over, trying to hide the way concern furrowed his brows. “You look like hell.”

“Wow, thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” He smirked, eyes glinting with amusement. He rested an elbow on the table, placing his chin in his palm, eyeing you again, “Have you eaten breakfast yet?”

Unpacking the bundles or herbs one by one, you looked at him. Was he worried about you? No, he couldn’t be. Carrion didn’t care for you the way you did for him. At least that was what you kept telling yourself. “Not yet.”

“Neither have I,” He declared, standing up from his chair. “Come on, let’s take a break from whatever it is you’re doing. You’re no use to the witch dead of starvation.”

“But the herbs–” You mumbled, looking at the bundled up lavender, waiting to be dried.

“Can wait,” Carrion motioned for you to follow. “We’re just going around the corner, you’ll be back before you even feel like you were gone.” Then he teased, “I promise I’ll make sure you’re back before your plants shrivel and wilt.”

With a sigh and a little chuckle you relented and walked out of Fisher’s house, side by side. The tavern around the corner wasn’t overwhelmingly busy like it was in the evenings, only a few people from Cahlish and travelers came here early in the day. You sat down across from each other in a small booth next to a window. “I am pretty hungry if I’m being honest.” You admitted, glad that he dragged you here. And glad for his company. If only he knew how much it really meant to you.

“I thought so.” He nodded to the waitress to let her know that he was ready to order. “Two breakfast plates and two mugs of peppermint tea, please.” He requested, then leaned back in his chair, “You look as though you haven’t slept in days.”

“I just–” You sighed and slumped back, tilting your head to each side to stretch the tense muscles in your neck. “It feels wrong to sleep my days away while Everlayne isn’t waking up. I want to do everything I can to help her. What if we waste too much time and she–” You shake your head, unable to voice the thought that had been choking you for weeks.

He was quiet for a few seconds, then replied, “You’re no good to the witch or your sister if you collapse from exhaustion. Maybe you should have Iseabail take another look at her. Or try Te léna again, isn’t healing her specialty? I think if Everlayne has any chance of waking up, it’s with the combined effort of all of us, but certainly not with you running on a diet of peppermint tea and catnaps.”

Of course he was right, you knew that. But every time you slept for more than four hours you felt like you neglected Everlayne. While the bond you felt with her wasn’t as strong as the one that connected you to your twin brother Fisher, she was still your half-sister and over the centuries, you’d developed a friendship that was even more dear to you than the blood you shared. “Iseabail is doing everything she can, she’s already hovering over Everlayne constantly, plus she’s spending hours every day prying the Quicksilver out of Fisher’s head. And Té lena has her hands full with all the other citizens of Cahlish and she has a family to take care of.” You frowned and loosened a shaky breath. “I’m going to Ballard for a few days. There’s a library there that’s pretty extensive with a grand archive. It’s probably pointless, but maybe there’s some sort of hint about what we could still try…” You chewed on your lip and picked at the seams of your sleeves. “I just don’t want to leave a single stone unturned.”

The waitress brought over the two plates filled with bread rolls, eggs and bacon and two mugs of tea. Carrion lifted the steaming cup to his lips, blew on it to cool the liquid, then took a tentative sip. “I could be your travel companion,” He offered, then shrugged, “I would be delighted to help you hunt down dusty old books on ancient healing magic.”

You chuckled at the thought. Spending a few days alone with Carrion sounded like a scenario straight from your daydreams, but Ballard had lots of taverns, alcohol and pretty females. It was already tedious enough to avoid his liaisons in Cahlish. Whenever all of you went to a tavern together, you made it your personal mission to leave first to make sure you wouldn’t see who Carrion left with. But during a trip together, would that even be possible? Your heart clenched painfully at the visuals of you in a creaky inn bed, Carrion next door, lewd noises spilling through the thin walls– “I don’t know, it’s probably going to be really boring, you won't like it.”

He raised a brow in amusement. “My dear, you underestimate the allure intellectual pursuits have on me. Besides, the company you would be offering would be more than enough to make up for any dull moments. Don’t dismiss yourself so easily.” He nudged your plate closer to you, silently urging you to start eating. “Perhaps the real question lies in whether you can tolerate my presence for days on end.”

If only he knew how you craved being around him whenever you weren’t with him. “I can tolerate your presence just fine.” You said, smiling faintly, digging into the first bite of eggs.

“Well then it’s settled.” He declared proudly, grinning. He took another sip of his tea, then placed it on the table. “I would be an absolute fool to pass up on an opportunity to get you all to myself.” He winked, “For days.”

Oh. Was that what this was about? You instantly wondered if you were just another one of his conquests. It wasn’t a secret that Carrion prided himself with the women he bedded. You already had to listen to the story of three River Sprites jerking him off with some sea moss three times during tavern nights and every single time you had made an excuse, either grabbing more ale or using the restroom. By the third time Saeris had followed you, catching you crying in the bathroom of the tavern like some pathetic idiot. She had comforted you and as far as you know, she had kept your secret ever since. It was nights like those when you lost hope for anything serious between you and Carrion ever blooming, but your stupid, naive heart always filled back up with longing. A never-ending cycle, it seemed. “I should get back to Fisher’s house, the lavender isn’t going to dry itself.” You quickly mumbled, pushing your thoughts to the back of your mind, where they belonged.

He watched as your expression faltered, clearly wondering if he had said the wrong thing. “My apologies. Have I upset you?”

“No. No, you haven’t, it’s just…” You sighed and placed your fork back on the table. “Sometimes I wonder why you’re always being so nice to me. I’m not a thing you can check off of some list just so you can stick it to my brother.” Shit. You cringed the second the words had left your mouth and you eyed the little flinch that moved Carrion’s shoulders. Immediately, you felt like Cahlish’s biggest asshole. “Sorry, that was–”

He shook his head, forcing a chuckle and a smile, “I deserved that. I’m aware that my reputation does precede me. Just the thought of what your brother would do to me if he ever found out I had dared to even think about you.” He ran a hand through his hair, sighing. “You know… just because I sometimes don’t exactly keep my hands to myself doesn’t mean I’m incapable of being serious or respectful. You might be surprised to find that I can behave myself on occasion.”

A thousand questions swirled in your head like a storm of the highest grade. Carrion Swift thought about you? Before you could voice any of the thoughts that rendered you stunned, a figure appeared behind Carrion. Renfis grabbed Carrion’s shoulder and smiled gently as he greeted the two of you. You’d known Fisher’s best friend for so long now, it was as if he was a brother to you as well. “Good morning you two. Romantic breakfast?” Renfis quipped and your cheeks flushed. With the exception of Saeris, you hadn’t talked to anyone about your feelings for Carrion and Renfis’s teasing made you wonder if everybody simply suspected it from the way you behaved around Carrion.

He let out an amused chuckle, shaking his head. “You’ve caught us,” He responded, then gave you a suggestive wink. “Breakfast, a little flirting, we had plans of running away together later, but we’re still working out the details.”

A laugh escaped you and Renfis smiled, leaning towards you. “Fisher will kill him, you know that, right?”

“We’re just having breakfast.” You replied and rolled your eyes, taking another bite of your bread roll, followed by a fork filled with eggs.

Renfis shook his head, chuckling. “Whatever, I don’t even want to know what this is. I only came here to tell you that your horse is ready for tomorrow.”

You had asked Renfis yesterday to get a mare prepared for you. Although Fisher could have easily summoned a Shadow Gate in Cahlish that led straight to Ballard, it was too risky to travel by it. The magic could attract all kinds of things and with Belikon still on the loose and undoubtedly out for revenge for what had happened in the labyrinth, a three day horse ride seemed like the most sane decision. “Actually... Could you add another horse?”

“For me,” Carrion clarified, then added with a grin, “We’re eloping.”

You kicked him under the table. “Carrion offered to join me. And it’s probably best that I don’t travel alone at the moment.”

Renfis’s eyes darted between you. “Does Fisher know about this?”

You sighed. “I didn’t know I had to ask Fisher for permission whenever I wanted to leave the city.”

“No, but I do think you should at least let him know that you’re not going to Ballard alone.” Renfis reasoned.

“I will.”

“Good. Then I’ll get the horse prepared.” He shot Carrion a warning look, before turning around and leaving the tavern again.

When it was just the two of you at the table once again, Carrion said, “I’ll go with you to break the news.” A smile tugged at your lips. Was he so eager to do right by you that he would even subject himself to Fisher’s potential wrath? Carrion was charming and a womanizer, yes, but he was also brave and considerate.

“You don’t have to do that. I can handle Fisher.”

“I don’t doubt that,” he shook his head, “But this was my idea, was it not? It’s only fair that I face the consequences at your side.” 

The tone he wrapped his warm words in pinched your heartstrings and you smiled. Gods and Martyrs, out of all the males available, why did you have to fall in love with Carrion Swift? If he could hear your thoughts right now, he’d surely make a run for it and you wouldn’t even blame him.

After you’d finished breakfast, you took a detour to your apartment so you could change your damp clothes for a dry pair of leather trousers and a cotton tunic. Then you made your way back to Fisher’s place. Your brother and Saeris weren’t home, so you decided to not waste anymore time before leaving tomorrow and dry the leftover herbs and flowers. “Grab some of the chamomile and lavender bundles, shake them a bit to get any bugs out, like this.” You showed Carrion how to rattle the flowers without breaking them. He watched carefully and when he looked slightly bewildered, you chuckled. “What? You might as well help me while we wait for Fisher to return.”

“I didn’t realize I’d be put to work,” he teased, picking up a bundle and mimicking your movements. The lavender filled the air with its delicate fragrance, enveloping both of you as you stood closely together, preparing the plants for drying.

Ignoring his comment, you moved the shaken bundles over to the sink and handed Carrion a clean cotton towel. “I’ll rinse them, you pat them dry. Careful though, don’t squish them.”

“Don’t squish them, got it,” Carrion repeated, nodding in understanding.

As you and Carrion worked side by side, a comfortable silence settled between you, broken only by the sounds of running water and the occasional chuckle from his side when you playfully shot glares at him for making a mess of the wet flowers. The simplicity of the moment made the weight of Fisher’s imminent reaction temporarily vanish, and for the first time in weeks you felt like you had enough room to breathe. You weren’t quite sure if your heart could handle the next few days without breaking once they were over again. Apparently, it was quite easy to get used to Carrion.

“Do you miss Zilvaren?” You asked, trying to get out of your own head and fill the room with conversation. “You traded resources on the black market, right?”

“Zilvaren,” He echoed, contemplating for a moment. His deft hands continued to dry the lavender with a gentle touch, his gaze fixed on his task as he spoke. “It’s a city of opportunities. A perfect place to trade and strike profitable deals.” He paused, then added with a hint of nostalgia, “I suppose I do miss the thrill of the underground world. The power that came with being the one who controlled the flow of certain goods. The networking. It was a dangerous game, but I reveled in it. And fuck, it sure made me a lot of coin.” A mischievous smirk played on his lips as he looked up at you.

“It also made you a criminal.”

Carrion let out an amused huff, “I prefer to think of myself as a rule breaker with exceptional entrepreneurial skills.”

He did have a way with words, you had to give him that. You could tell why he had been an unparalleled smuggler in Zilvaren. Carrion dapped the towel on the last bundle of chamomile, then you nodded towards the tiny pantry. “There are hooks on the ceiling, I like to hang them up in there.” You wrapped each bundle with a long string of twine, then handed it to him so he could tie a knot around the metal hooks. You stood right in front of him, catching a glimpse of the muscles that flexed underneath the fabric of his shirt, whenever he lifted his arms. “Once we’re in Ballard we should ask for a layout of the library and make a plan. This way we don’t waste time searching for the right sections and we can cross off the ones we already looked through so we don’t go through one twice.” Quickly, you averted your gaze from his body and handed him another bundle to hang.

His movements displayed confidence and grace, despite the fact that he had never done any of this before. The sight of him engaged in such a mundane task had an undeniable effect on you. His mere presence was enough to make you feel lightheaded at times, but having him there with you, in the warmth of the kitchen, the tiny confined space of the pantry– it was intoxicating. It made you forget yourself, made you forget how he really viewed you, made you forget the ache of knowing that he’d never want you the same way you wanted him. “That’s a splendid idea,” He said with a smile. For a moment your gazes met and you wordlessly stared at each other. You were supposed to hand him the next bundle, but instead you stood frozen in place, your eyes leaving his for a quarter of a second, darting to his lips, then back up again. Carrion picked up on it immediately and slowly leaned down, giving you enough time to pull away, but by the Gods, that was the last thing you wanted to do right now. A magnetic pull seemed to draw you closer, an invisible force that you had no control over. He cupped your chin, tilting your face up, his thumb gently brushing the curve of your bottom lip. His fingers slid to the nape of your neck, the soft touch electrifying every nerve in your body. The air thickened around you as Carrion closed the remaining distance between you and captured your mouth in a tender kiss. It was a thorough kiss. Beautiful and full of unspoken emotion. His tongue stroked yours in gentle swipes and you’d just begun relaxing into a brilliant rhythm, when the front door opened, causing you and Carrion to jump apart. A moment later, Fisher and Saeris entered the kitchen. You wiped your palms on your legs and emerged from the pantry, Carrion right behind you, the bundles of freshly hung lavender dangling in the background. “There you are!” You stated overly excited.

Carrion cleared his throat and gave Fisher and Saeris a casual smile, masking the moment you’d just shared as best as he could. “You’re back– excellent. We have news for the two of you.”

Eyes widening, you looked at Carrion, then your brother. “Ehm, yes. Do you want to sit down? I can make some tea.”

“What is it?” Fisher probed impatiently, his glare bouncing around like a bullet. Saeris took one glance at your flustered and overwhelmed face and reached out, squeezing Fisher’s hand to calm him down.

“I– I would like to go to Ballard. Tomorrow. I want to search through the library, maybe I’ll be able to find something to help Everlayne.” You started, letting that piece of information sink in first, before telling him about your plan to let Carrion accompany you.

“That doesn’t sound like a terrible idea,” Saeris stated, then added, “We should make use of all the information we can get our hands on.”

“Yes,” Fisher agreed. “The more eyes and brains on this matter, the better.”

“Yes, that’s exactly my thinking,” Carrion chimed in, seizing the opportunity to speak before your brother could say anything else, “And that’s why I’ll be joining her to offer a second pair of eyes.”

Well, that wasn’t exactly how you’d imagined easing Fisher into the thought of you traveling alone with Carrion Swift. 

He looked at Carrion, a moment passed, then he deadpanned, “Absolutely not.”

You rolled your eyes and sighed. “Fisher–”

“No,” he repeated, crossing his arms. “Out of the question. I’ll take you there myself or you can go with Saeris or Lorreth or Ren, I don’t care– anyone but him.”

“You’re being completely unreasonable. Carrion has been nothing but helpful and kind to me.”

“He’s a philanderer,” Fisher retorted flatly.

“Gods alive…” You sighed, pinching the bridge of your nose. “Alright, this is ridiculous. We’re twins. You’re neither older than me nor are you my parent. I had the courtesy to ask you, but if you’re going to treat me like an imbecile who can’t make her own decisions, then I will just do as I please.” You shoved past him and towards the door, but

Carrion held your hand, stopping you, giving one of his charming smiles, then said, “Let’s not make any hasty decisions. I’m sure there’s a compromise to be made that everyone can live with.”

You raised a brow at Fisher who rolled his eyes, the stubborn male only relented when Saeris nudged him. He sighed, then conceded, “What do you propose?”

Carrion looked at you, then at Fisher, his tone full of unwavering confidence. “She’ll be safe in my company. I’ll escort her to Ballard and to the library and the inn we’ll reside in, ensuring her well-being every step of the way. Once she’s done with her research, we’ll leave immediately. No detours, no diversions.” A mischievous smile crossed his lips as he added, “And to set your mind at ease, we could have Renfis accompany us.”

That sounded like a fair and mature agreement and one sideways glance at your brother told you that there wasn’t much left he could disagree with now. Fisher sighed, nodding reluctantly. 

“Fine. But Renfis will not join you. I need him here.” He glowered at Carrion, his expression hardening as he continued, “You simply won’t try anything with her or take advantage of this situation, otherwise I will not hesitate to end you.”

Carrion grinned in spite of Fisher’s threatening tone, knowing that he had won this battle. “Fantastic,” he said, then turned to you, his devious smile softening into something more sincere, “So, tomorrow morning then?”

“Tomorrow morning.” You confirmed and your eyes met in a meaningful glimpse that lingered for a moment.

The evening was filled with an awkward dinner, Fisher sitting at the head of the table, Saeris to his right and you to his left. Saeris tried to make light conversation, but you were still pissed at your brother’s behaviour and Fisher was not giving the impression that he felt like apologizing for it, which made you even more furious. You were glad when your plate was finally empty and you could make your way to your room. As you lay underneath the soft cotton blankets, your mind wandered back to the kiss you’d shared with Carrion in the cramped pantry. Fuck, he was a really good kisser, you had definitely expected that much. He was probably just as good in bed. It was clear that he wasn’t lacking experience. He hadn’t been shy talking about the conquests he had made since entering Yvelia and back in Zilvaren, it must have been even worse. An ugly twitch of jealousy made your heart thump painfully in your chest, even though you had no right. It was one kiss. To him, it probably meant nothing, a heat of the moment kind of thing. To you, it had only confirmed that you felt something for him. Sleep found you way too late and when you woke to the fainting dawn, your entire body was groaning in response to the few hours of actual rest you had gotten. Bag packed, you made your way to the kitchen, forced down a few bites of porridge and just before you exited through the front door, a clear of Fisher’s throat sounding from the hallway had your head turning around.

Fisher was standing there, leaning against the wall, watching you, frustration and worry fighting a battle in the lines of his face. He let out a heavy sigh before speaking, “I’m worried about you, alright?”

“I know you are. But that doesn’t give you the right to dictate my decisions.”

“Fair,” He admitted, his shoulders tensing as he struggled to say his next words. You were taken aback when he spoke, for it was so uncharacteristic of him to be this vulnerable and open. “I just… can’t lose you too,” he continued softly, his tone betraying the deep-seated fear that had transformed into anger the past night. “I can’t lose anyone else I love.”

Your chin wobbled, but you managed to catch yourself. He was talking about your father, your mother and Everlayne, who was teetering on the edge of being gone forever as well. You felt all of those losses in the same painful way Fisher did. “You won’t lose me, just because I take a trip to Ballard and read through some books. And you won’t lose me just because Carrion joins me either.”

The corners of his mouth lifted, and for all the times you’d seen him wear his signature smirk, this smile, however fragile, was genuine. He pushed off the wall and closed the distance between you, pulling you into a tight hug, “If anything happens, and I mean anything that makes you uncomfortable or doesn’t seem right even in the slightest, you send word and I’ll be there. Got it?”

“Got it.”

A light kiss to the top of your forehead, then he let you go, but not before shooting you a look that clearly said ‘Don’t you dare get into trouble’. He gave you a playful shove as you turned to the door. “And tell that prick to watch his hands.”

“Fisher!” A flush crept up your neck and you shook your head.

He called after you, “What? It’s my duty as your brother to tell you those things!”

You gave a crude gesture and a goodbye wave, before disappearing into the streets of Cahlish. 

The stables where Ren had prepared your horses for the trip were only a few corners away and when they came into view, you saw that Carrion was already waiting, one shoulder casually leaned against a wooden beam, chatting to one of the stable boys. The soft, muted colors of his clothing that blended perfectly with the earthy, stony surroundings of the city were just another indicator of how well Carrion Swift adapted to wherever he was. He was the rightful heir to the Yvelian throne and yet, right here, he looked like a normal citizen, simply going about his day. Like a chameleon, that was also really good at smooth talking and business. He had dressed himself in a loose, ash-gray linen shirt, the first few buttons open, revealing a bit of toned muscle beneath. Over it, he wore a fitted, deep brown vest, its edges trimmed with faint embroidery and small fastenings running down the front. The vest hugged his frame, emphasizing the broad span of his shoulders. His dark trousers were tugged into worn leather boots with creases that could undoubtedly tell stories about long days spent on foot. You swallowed hard as you came closer to Carrion and the stable boy. There was an effortless allure that always surrounded him and it drove you positively mad. In all of your centuries of living, no male had ever had that sort of effect on you and it scared the shit out of you. 

“Good morning.” You greeted as you came to a halt next to the two males.

Carrion looked up at you, the sun illuminating his blonde, bronze, auburn locks, his smile widening. He dismissed the stable boy with a friendly nod, before he stared for a moment,  just drinking in the sight of you. “Morning, Sunshine.”

“You all set?” You asked, unable to get rid of the tingling in your lips where you still felt the kiss you had shared in the pantry last night. You couldn’t help but wonder what would have happened if Saeris and Fisher hadn’t walked in.

Looking as if he was thinking about the exact same thing, Carrion licked his bottom lip and said, “I am. And I’ve taken the liberty of grabbing us some breakfast from the tavern. The trip will take us three days if we travel swiftly,” he turned to the two horses waiting in their individual stalls, running his hands down the flank of the one next to him, “So I’d recommend we get going.”

Lorreth’s ocean blue gaze settled on you, a hint of concern etched into his beautifully chiseled features. He had probably been on his way to check on Saeris when you nearly collided with him. The warrior regarded you for a moment, his eyes flickering briefly over your figure and you wondered if he could see the fatigue and worry that clung to you like a sticky layer of spider silk. “Everything alright?” he asked, his voice rumbling lowly between the narrow walls of the stone walled corridor.

“Yes, I was just on my way to the library.” It was still unclear if Everlayne was ever going to wake up again, but the Gods only knew how hard everyone was working on finding a solution for her situation. Kingfisher had thought it best to leave her in Cahlish. Sanasroth, this castle... It was no place for an ethereal being like Layne. And if she was going to wake up, it certainly was best not to let the place that held her captive be the first thing she saw. Te léna and Iseabail were taking good care of her, but it still soothed your conscience to go and search every book on healing and medical knowledge you could find to do some research. After all, looking through books, reading texts and finding things others would never even think about looking for, was what you were good at.

“The library, huh?” he mused, a corner of his mouth twitching upward into a half-smile. Clearly, he found the idea of you searching through stacks of books rather amusing. He crossed his forearms over his chest, and regarded you with a considering stare. “Can't sleep again?”

Instinctively, you glanced to one of the stained glass windows and indeed found only darkness. The days had been effortlessly flowing into the nights and most of the time, you didn't have a clue if it was midday or three in the morning. According to Kingfisher, it was too dangerous for you to wander around outside the castle as Gillethyre was still infested with feeders and you were still human. A topic you and Saeris had been avoiding like the plague. Going back to Cahlish also wasn't an option though, there was no way in hell you would abandon your sister here. She was well protected by Fisher, you knew that and they loved each other very much. But still... It didn't feel right to be separated from her. Not now. And so you stayed in the castle most days, unless you visited Cahlish through a Shadow Portal Fisher had set up, which didn't happen very often. “I guess not…”

He nodded slowly, his gaze still lingering on you in that infuriatingly captivating way. Like he saw more than just your frilly human form. It sent an onslaught of tingles down your spine. “No surprise there,” he said dryly. After a moment, he gestured down the hallway. “Come with me. I have something that might help.” His shoulders flexed and rippled as he turned, already walking down the corridor with the assumption that you would follow.

“Where are we going?” You asked, hurrying after him. Where his long legs took a single stride, you at least needed three to keep up and you had barely made it past three doors before you began panting pathetically. “You're not going to drug me, are you?”

He cast an entertained glance over his shoulder at your struggle to keep up with his brisk pace, his lips curling into a smirk. Gods, that damned smirk. “No, I'm not going to drug you. I promise.” It was hard to tell for certain, but you could swear his shoulder shook with a chuckle.

Eventually, you came to a halt in front of a grand, dark wood door and your brows rose. “Your quarters?”

He nodded and pushed the door open, gesturing for you to go in with a sweep of his hand. The spacious room was bathed in a soft golden glow from the lanterns that flickered above, casting dancing shadows onto the floor. There was a huge four-poster bed, dressed in dark silks and fine furs, and a massive stone fireplace. Lorreth walked over to a small table and picked up a heavy iron kettle, then turned to you and glanced at a leather armchair. “Sit.”

It smelled of lavender and citrus when he lifted the kettle onto the flames and brought the liquid inside to a boil. Then he filled a cup with steaming tea and handed it to you. A hum vibrated through your chest when you inhaled the comforting scent. “What is it?”

“A special blend Te léna made for me.” He answered, watching you closely as he slumped down on the other armchair across from you. “Chamomile, lavender, valerian root, lemon balm and cinnamon. It should help calm your nerves and make you sleep.”

A sceptical brow twitched on your forehead and you sniffed again. Then you took a careful sip and the moment the hot liquid came into contact with your tongue, you frowned. “Ugh! That's disgusting!”

Lorreth stifled a laugh as he watched your grimace of disgust. Teacup in hand, he leaned back in his chair, looking rather proud of himself. “What did you expect? A sugary sweet, honey laced concoction?” He teased.

“Gods, at least something a little more palatable.” After a few more sips, you became more accustomed to the bitterness of the tea and sighed.

A lazy, lopsided grin curled the corner of Lorreth's mouth. The sight of you struggling to gulp down the bitter drink must have been delightful. He rested his chin on a fist, watching you grimace. “Well, it's supposed to be medicinal, not a dessert.”

Reluctantly and with all your willpower concentrated on pushing down your gag reflex, you finally finished the cup. “You said Te léna made this for you? Do you also have trouble finding sleep?”

Lorreth shifted and the leather of the cushion creaked beneath him. “Sometimes.” He replied, then fell silent, gaze flicking toward the fire. “Especially lately, to be honest, I–” He stopped himself, words caught at the back of his throat.

“I have nightmares.” You quickly said, sensing that talking about whatever burdened him was too much to share right now. “I've always had them. In Zilvaren they were mostly about water. Not having enough of it. Dying underneath the sand. Burning in the suns. Here they are... Different.”

Attention sharpened at your words, Lorreth's bright blue gaze lingered on your face, silently urging you on.

“Here I– I often dream of the labyrinth. Of Saeris... what she looked like next to me... insides spilling out–” You cleared your throat, wincing at the memory. It had only been a few weeks since the fight against Malcolm under the amphitheater and with all the shit going on, there had barely been a moment to digest what had happened. You'd almost lost your little sister that day and your own life, too. Not to mention the nagging pain in your knee that never failed to remind you of that horrid day whenever you dared to forget for just a moment.

Lorreth's gaze softened as he regarded you closely. The fire cast a warm glow over his face, highlighting the sharp planes of his perfect features. It seemed as though he was holding back words he wanted to say but had yet to decide if he should voice them aloud. “The pain in your knee…” he said gently, “Does it bother you often?” Reluctantly, you gave a sharp, single nod. There was no use in lying to him. His High Fae hearing would pick up on your heightened heartbeat right away. He let out a soft sigh and stood up from the armchair, crossing the room to kneel down in front of you. “May I have a look?”

“Sure. Do your worst.” You quipped, but your tone lacked any humor. Lorreth carefully pushed up the leg of your pants, exposing your swollen knee. It was almost comforting when he ran his fingertips across your skin, tracing the edges of the injury and the surrounding area. Every time he found a tender spot, his touch would linger just a moment longer, as if he was cataloguing every little detail. “What's the verdict? Am I going to lose the leg?”

He shook his head, his expression serious as his gaze lifted to meet yours, calloused knuckles brushing your knee. “No, but it's bad. You should be resting, not running around searching through the library.”

You raised a brow and yawned, the tea slowly taking effect. “Come on, you can hardly expect me to just lie down and do nothing.”

“Don't get me wrong, I admire your tenacity.” Lorreth replied, letting the fabric of your pant leg fall back down. “But you've been limping ever since the fight and I can see how tired you are, no matter how many times you deny it.”

“Then what do you suggest I do?”

Sitting back on his heels, Lorreth pondered over the question for a moment.  “How about a compromise?”

“A compromise?”

A soft pat on your leg that sent tingles all over your skin, then Lorreth rose from the floor and settled back into the armchair, crossing his arms over his chest. “You come here, to my chambers, they are closer to the library than yours. I'll bring you the books that you think might be useful. You read through them and see if you can find anything. That way you'll give your knee some rest.”

The offer floated around in your head for a few seconds, before you replied, “I'm in the library everyday. I can't possibly invade your space that often. And you most certainly have better things to do than carry books around the castle.”

Lorreth leaned forward, forearms propped on his thick, muscular legs. “You're not ‘invading’ my space, I'm inviting you into it. And I promise you, carrying books is far less bothersome than worrying about you.”

The meaning behind those words wasn't lost on you. Never before had someone, except for your siblings, been so determined to take care of you and it truly warmed your heart. His words seemed genuine, not like some duty he had to fulfill. This big, trained, focused warrior actually worried about you and your wellbeing. There was a part of you that wanted to protest, but your eyelids grew heavier with each passing moment, the tea doing its job incredibly well. Fingers clawing into the armrests of your chair, you tried to hoist yourself out of it, but the room instantly began moving beneath your feet and your legs felt like lead. “I should go to my room…” You slurred, desperately trying to keep control of your body.

“Like hell you will.” Smoother than anyone or anything had the right to be, Lorreth shot up and was at your side in two swift strides. With fluid ease, he slid a strong arm around you, keeping you from toppling over, then scooped you up into his arms. A familiar, comforting wave of bergamot and cedarwood hit your nostrils as you buried your face in his neck. Even if you'd wanted to, there was no way you'd be able to walk yourself anywhere right now. 

“Thank you…” You mumbled, as you finally dozed off.

Lorreth

Carefully, Lorreth carried you over to his bed and gently placed you on the mattress, tugging you into the soft sheets and furs and pulling them up to your chin. He paused for a moment and watched your sleeping form, the rise and fall of your chest, and the features of your face. It was so easy to get lost in your beauty and he found himself unable to fight  the urge to reach out and brush a strand of hair away from your face.

Lorreth decided to take a trip to the library and bring back some books for you to scour through when you woke up again. This way he'd be able to persuade you to stay off your knee for a while longer. Deep in thought and your scent still lingering in his nose, he ran into Saeris. “Hey, have you seen my sister?” She asked.

Hearing the question, Lorreth pulled himself from his tangled thoughts, focusing his attention on Saeris. “I have. She's in my quarters. Sleeping.”

Saeris's brows rose all the way up towards her hairline once she'd comprehended the words. “She's... In your quarters? Sleeping? In your... Bed?”

A hint of a smirk pulled at Lorreth's lips at the implication. “Yes, sleeping. In my quarters. Untouched. No need to sound so scandalized.” Saeris stared at him, clearly waiting for him to go on and explain himself. A long suffering, heartfelt sigh escaped Lorreth. “I was doing a routine check throughout the castle and ran into her, she looked dead on her feet. So I took her with me, gave her some tea to help her sleep and then I put her to bed.”

Saeris nodded and gave a concerned half-smile. “That's kind of you. She hasn't been taking very good care of herself lately.”

“No kidding. She's been running herself ragged. And that Gods cursed knee she injured is really doing a number on her, she's just refusing to admit it.”

A worried look spread over Saeris's face and she swallowed hard. “Are you headed to the library?”

Lorreth nodded. “I am. She's searching through every textbook in there to find a way to help Everlayne. I told her I'd bring the books to her so she'll continue resting.”

A gentle grin tugged on her lips. “That's very thoughtful. Should I come with you and show you the last section she was working through?”

“Please do.” With a gesture down the hall, Lorreth and Saeris fell into step beside each other. He had a feeling that your sister was going to use this opportunity to give him a shovel talk and he wasn't looking forward to it in the slightest. The warrior knew ever since he'd first laid eyes on you, that you were special. Even now, his heart threatened to punch straight out of his chest every single time you were around him. Lorreth wasn't a coward and he had never before had any problems with charming and seducing females, but Gods, were you different. The library was relatively empty, considering it was already late into the evening. It was a lot larger than it looked from the outside and just as dark as the rest of the castle. Saeris walked confidently through the aisles, letting her fingers run across the spines of the books. She suddenly halted and clapped her hands together once. “I think this is where I saw Y/N last this morning.” She announced and stood on her toes, reaching into the shelf and handing book after book to Lorreth. “Word of advice? Don't skip any, she'll notice.”

A huff, half amused, half suffering, escaped Lorreth as he clutched an ever-growing stack of books to his chest. That was the absolute last thing he wanted. He wanted to be on your good side. If he was being honest with himself, he'd probably read the damned books twice all by himself if it meant he could spend more time with you.

“My sister trusts you.” Saeris said when they made their way back towards his chambers.

His heart skipped a beat and Lorreth's knuckles turned white from holding on so tightly to the heavy pile in his arms. This conversation was just what he'd dreaded. “I hope so.” He responded cautiously, gaze flickering toward Saeris.

“I'm surprised she does. Not because you're not trustworthy, of course. It's just not common for her to let someone in like that.” Lorreth's footsteps sounded loudly on the stone floor and he was glad for it, hoping that the stomping would cancel out the noise of his erratic pulse raging through his veins. He was still trying to figure out how to best answer without sounding like a complete imbecile, when Saeris came to an abrupt halt and looked him square in the eye. “You do know that if you break her heart I will string you up by the balls in the middle of Cahlish, right?” Shovel talk, as expected, Lorreth thought to himself.

After a moment, he had collected himself enough to respond. He would not be intimidated by Saeris, even if the Queen of Sanasroth happened to be Kingfisher's mate and a powerful warrior in her own right. “I have no intention of breaking your sister's heart. I'll always put her happiness and wellbeing above my own.”

“She’s human.”

A pause. He understood what Saeris was implying. The thought of losing you to death because of your short lifespan had crossed Lorreth's mind more times than he could count. “She's human.” He echoed in soft confirmation.

“Just keep that in mind.”

And he would. The idea that one day the afterlife would claim you, when he'd still have centuries left, was haunting– absolutely bone chilling even. But he also knew that there was no force in the entire world that would stop him from loving you. Fuck... The thought that had so effortlessly crossed his mind made his insides turn upside down, but he managed to gather his bearings and said, “I will.”

Lorreth gave a small nod and pinched the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger, trying to stifle an onslaught of yawning. “I did.”

“Lorreth!” You chided and quickly sat up, legs dangling from the edge of the bed. The High Fae were so tall, everything in their world was enormous compared to Zilvaren. “You should have woken me up. I can’t believe you let me stay in your bed all night while you slept in that thing crumpled up like a piece of paper.” The tips of your toes touched the cold stone floor and without thinking about it, you hopped down from the mattress. A hot stabbing pain surged from your knee all the way through your thigh, landing a punishing blow straight in the center of your brain and you winced loudly. You’d almost forgotten about the fucking knee.

Lorreth was at your side in an instant, gently grabbing you by the shoulders and guiding you back onto the bed. “See, that's exactly why I didn’t wake you up.” He said with an exasperated sigh, carefully laying you back against the pillows.

“Fuck.” You cursed, letting your head fall back into the softness of his sheets. “I feel like it’s gotten worse from resting it.”

Crouching down at your side, he slipped up the fabric of your pants to assess the injury again. His calloused but nimble fingers traced the edges of the swollen flesh, checking your reaction as he poked around. “It’s probably just a bit more tender because you’re no longer in constant motion. It’ll ease soon.”

Your gaze drifted towards the pile of books on the small wooden table near the door. “You actually went to the library for me?”

“I said I would, didn’t I?” His fingers were still prodding your knee and you had to actively fight against the urge to flinch away. Lorreth continued the examination for a few more seconds, then gently lowered the fabric of your pants back over the reddened skin, standing up to his full height.

With your mind focused on the books only a few feet from you, you once again tried to get up from the bed, much to Lorreth’s dismay. He quickly handed you the pile of books you so desperately wanted to get to, giving you no further reason to leave the comfort of his bed and strain your knee. “Thank you…” You mumbled sheepishly.

“You’re welcome.” He sat back down in the armchair he’d slept in and silently observed you for a moment. Then, after a few minutes of quietly watching you run your fingers across the spines of the tomes, Lorreth spoke up. “Is there any way I can help you?”

Surprised, you glanced up at him. “Uhm, sure... Just grab a book and flip through it. If you see the words ‘sleep’, ‘coma’, ‘waking’ or anything along those lines you tell me.”

Lorreth nodded and picked the first book on the stack. The leather cover was well worn, probably having seen a good millenia of use. There was not a single drawing in the book, but it was filled with tight-packed paragraphs of small, handwritten text. With an almost pained expression on his chiseled features, Lorreth leafed through the pages, skimming through the words, searching for any mention of what you had mentioned. But after a while, he tossed the book aside. “Nothing.”

“What, did you expect to find something on your first try? I’ve been doing this for weeks and I got nothing so far.” You chuckled.

He picked up a heavy leather-bound volume. Lorreth flipped through the thick book, his gaze skimming the pages as his eyes darted across the cramped writing on each one. He managed roughly seven books, before he threw another onto the growing pile on the floor and gave a long and tired sigh. A strand of raven black hair that had escaped his braids, hung in front of his eyes and he lazily brushed it back, his sharp jawline clenching in frustration. You could have gawked at him all day and night. He truly was beautiful. There was a certain grace to this huge, bulky warrior, somehow, even if you hadn’t known it, you would have already guessed that he used to do something artistic before joining Fisher in Cahlish. Although Lorreth kept insisting that he was merely a mediocre traveling singer in his younger years, you didn’t believe that one bit. You were determined to hear him sing eventually and be the judge of that yourself. “I think it’s time for me to leave, thank you again for letting me stay here…” You said, already trying to scramble out of his big, comfortable bed.

Lorreth’s gaze was fixed on you, taking in your every movement as you sat on the edge of the mattress, your feet dangling. “You’re not leaving.” He said and crossed his arms over his chest.

“Excuse me?”

A smirk danced across his features at your response and he leaned back in the armchair a little more. He had been expecting protest, it was written all over his handsome face and it made the urge to slap it almost unbearable. “You’re not leaving. I don’t trust that you won’t try to sneak into the library on your own and you and I both know that you will be on your two legs the moment you are alone in your quarters. You will do anything but rest, which we already established is not a very wise idea.” You scoffed, but Lorreth continued. “Besides, I asked Te Léna to take a Shadow Portal and come here to have a look at your knee, she’ll be here any minute.”

Eyes wide, you huffed in disbelief. “You did what?!”

“I summoned a healer to check on your knee.”

“You can’t just–” You took a deep inhale. “You can’t just force me to see a healer.”

“Oh, I can and I will.” He deadpanned, not the least bit bothered. “I don’t know why you’re so intent on disregarding the wellbeing of your own body, but your stubbornness is getting out of hand.”

You were interrupted before you could start painting the room in all sorts of colorful curses, every single one of them carefully accumulated in the dusty taverns of Zilvaren while fighting off the mainly male audience there. A knock on the door to Lorreth’s chambers sounded almost cautiously and he quickly called the visitor inside. Te léna entered the room, along with a leather satchel slung around the crook of her elbow. She smiled brightly when she saw you sitting on the bed. The two of you had become friends, even more so since you had started helping as best as you could with Everlayne. It had been two weeks since you’d last seen her in Cahlish and you had to admit that you had missed her easy going demeanor. Everything always seemed a little lighter with the healer around. “I’m so sorry he made you come here, I don’t think it’s necessary at all. My knee–”

Before you could finish the sentence, Te léna and Lorreth both fixed you with stares that clearly indicated that they were in cahoots with each other. Te léna had been the one who had fixed you up after the fight against Malcom. She had done as best as she could considering your knee was battered beyond reason and you were human, not High Fae. Your jaw clenched and you reluctantly lifted the fabric of your pants up again, revealing the red, swollen skin. Te léna made a soft sound of disapproval and crouched down, gently inspecting the flesh with her fingers. Her hands were firm but careful, but you still had to bite down hard on the inside of your cheek to suppress a wince. Lorreth was hovering over you and the healer like a Gods damned hawk, but you tried to ignore him. He only meant well, you knew that and you were grateful to have someone on your side like that. And if you were being completely honest with yourself, you had not rested your leg properly, not even for a single day. A shudder of panic crept over your skin at the thought that maybe it was too late now to save your mobility altogether. Maybe you had fucked this up thoroughly with your obstinate behavior. But all you ever wanted was to be of use, not just some... human. Te léna hummed as she pushed the skin around a bit more and Lorreth frowned when you ground your teeth in agony. For a moment you imagined him taking your hand and squeezing it in comfort, but the thought quickly fled your mind again, when Te lénas voice filled the silence. “Have you been taking anything for pain relief or a healing tincture?” She asked as she gently pulled your pants back down and sat back on her haunches.

Shaking your head, you sat up straighter. “No, nothing.”

Both Te léna and Lorreth shot you a withering glare. The healer sighed. “I don’t know if I should be surprised or not. You have to know the importance of resting and pain relief, especially because of your lack of natural Fae healing.”

“Is it that bad?”

Te léna exchanged a look with Lorreth, who was still towering over you. “Considering you’ve been walking on it for weeks without any proper care, it’s a miracle that you even still have both of your legs.” She started rummaging through the bag she’d brought. “Still, the knee should have at least somewhat healed by now, instead I’m fairly sure it looks worse than it did a few days after my initial treatment.”

You furrowed your brows and shifted restlessly on the soft mattress. “What does that mean?”

Te léna pulled a vial out of her satchel that contained a pitch black tincture. “When you came back to Cahlish after the labyrinth, your knee was torn and shattered. There were several wounds, but one of them must have come from a blade, it looked more like a cut.” You stared at her, confused. It could very well be that you had been stabbed in your knee during the fight, the pain in your body had been all consuming, there was no way you remembered all injuries and what had caused them correctly. At your puzzled expression, she continued, “I think that the daggers Malcom used were dipped in poison. And whatever that blade was laced in, is now festering in your knee. Which I could have told you weeks ago, if you would have consulted me sooner.” There was a pinch of urgency in Te léna's normally sweet voice and you could practically feel the intensity of Lorreth’s gaze on you. “Drink this.” She instructed, handing you the inky black tonic.

Your face pulled together tightly in a cringe when you removed the cork and smelled the liquid. “Martyrs, what the fuck is that?”

The healer gave a grim smile. “It’s going to attack whatever poison is swarming your leg, hopefully dissolving it.”

“And if it doesn’t?” Lorreth asked.

Te léna's eyes flickered toward him for a moment, hesitation showing on her delicate features. “Let’s just hope that it will.”

With your head tilted back, you chugged down the contents of the glass vial in one gulp, gagging at the foul taste. “Fuck…” As soon as the potion hit your stomach, it felt like someone had lit a fire within you. A scorching, searing pain that spread through you almost instantly, making your head spin and bile rise in your throat. Your vision blurred and Lorreth caught you, before you could fall forward off the edge of the bed.

Lorreth

Carefully, Lorreth lowered you back into the safety of his pillows and sheets. “Is this normal?” He asked Te léna, trying very hard not to lose his mind at the sight of you unconscious.

“It’s expected, yes.” Te léna said in response, her tone still as unperturbed as usual.

The healer gave him a few instructions: Do not move her around too much, have a pitcher of water ready for when you’d wake up since the tonic would leave you unbearably thirsty as a side effect and do not leave her out of his sight, just in case anything happened. That Lorreth could easily do. He had already watched you sleep for hours last night and it had been more calming than any herbal remedy he had tried in the many years he had been a warrior. Just as the door behind Te léna closed, it opened again and Saeris gasped when she saw your unconscious state. “What happened?”

Lorreth explained to Saeris what Te léna’s visit had been about and told her about the healer’s suspicion that your knee was still filled with poison from Malcolm’s dagger. She listened carefully and looked utterly concerned by the end of his rendition.

“You can bring her to my rooms, I can watch over her.” Saeris suggested.

Lorreth sighed softly as he watched you, eyes closed and breathing steadily. “No. She’s staying with me.” Every fiber in his body insisted on that.

“She’s my sister, I can’t ask you to be her caretaker, this isn’t your responsibility, Lorreth.” Saeris said.

“Neither is it yours.” Lorreth countered almost immediately in a sharp tone. “She’s staying with me.” He repeated. “And I don’t intend on letting her out of my sight until that Gods cursed knee is healed.”

Nodding thoughtfully, Saeris gave a half-smile and placed a hand on one of Lorreth’s shoulders as she turned to leave. “Keep me updated. I want to know everything. Anything happens, you send for me, no matter the time of day, alright?”

“Of course.” He replied, then looked back down at you, his expression tight. He’d made a promise to himself after he’d almost lost you to Malcolm in the labyrinth, to keep you safe and now here you were, passed out cold, poisoned blood from that bastard’s blade still running through your veins. “I’m sorry, I didn't mean to snap at you.”

Saeris halted before her hand reached the doorknob. “It’s alright. I understand that this is hard for you.”

He let out a rough sigh as he leaned back and rubbed a palm over his face. It was hard for him, alright. It was torture to see you like this. Even in his darkest moments, even when Kingfisher had been gone for 110 years, he had never felt worry as intense as he did right now. And that meant something, considering a part of Fisher’s soul still rested in Lorreth from the time his friend had saved his life. “You don’t know the half of it…”

“Why don’t you just tell her?”

Torn between irritation and misery, Lorreth’s light blue gaze briefly flicked to Saeris. “You don’t think I’ve thought about it? You don’t think those words don’t try to push past my teeth every time I see her?”

“Then what’s holding you back?” Saeris asked with gentle insistence.

Lorreth pinched the bridge of his nose and shook his head in frustration, a strangled sound escaped his throat. “Gods, you don’t get it... There has always been a part of me that aches, deep down. Like a piece of me is missing and nothing I do, no one I touch or fuck, nothing I try can make the hollow feeling go away. And then I see her,” He gestured to your sleeping form on the bed. “And suddenly, it’s different. It’s like someone is reaching into my chest, yanking on every nerve, stuffing that cavity that has been there full of her.”

Throat visibly bobbing with a hard swallow, Saeris walked away from the door and back into the room. “Have you talked to Fisher about this?”

A scoff escaped him. “Of course not. What would I say? ‘Hey, by the way, there’s this human woman who makes me feel all funny…’” He said mockingly.

Saeris gave him a scolding look, then nodded towards the tray of Whiskey he had standing atop his dresser. “Pour us a drink.”

Lorreth exhaled heavily but did as he was told. He went to the dresser and grabbed two crystal glasses, filling them both halfway, then turned and handed one to Saeris. “Lorreth... What you’re describing…” She halted and gulped down the whole drink and he did the same, savoring the burn in his throat. “What you’re describing is exactly how Fisher talks about his mating bond feeling when I first arrived here.”

Lorreth froze in the motion of lifting his refilled glass to his mouth. He felt his blood go cold as the words hit him square in the chest. A mating bond. “That’s impossible... Mating bonds don’t exist anymore, Fisher and you are an exception.”

Pondering over that for a moment, Saeris seemingly tried to piece a puzzle together in her head. “But what if we’re not? Think about it... When I met Zareth, God of Chaos, he told me he tried everything to suppress the bond between me and Fisher. He feared the union, but ultimately, as we all know, fate had the upper hand and I ended up here, with Fisher, anyway. Maybe, the moment I arrived here in Yvelia, a door to ancient magic and true mating bonds had reopened and yes, maybe they are rare, close to impossible even, but–” She shifted to the edge of the chair she was sitting in, leaning forward, closer to Lorreth. “Y/N and I are sisters. We share the same blood. Fisher and you might not be real brothers, but you share something even deeper– a soul. You carry a part of his soul. I don’t think it’s that unlikely, that fate chose two individuals that close to me and Fisher and simply... Did it again.”

Lorreth shook his head, his breath shaky. “You’re drawing conclusions far too eagerly, the chances of that happening are infinitesimal.” He was lying through his teeth, because her words had struck a nerve, the moment she had said it, it had started making perfect sense.

Saeris downed the third glass of Whiskey and cringed at the taste. “I mean, we can’t know for sure until the tattoos appear on both of you, but... Makes perfect sense to me.” Raising from her chair, she gave your resting form one more look. “I’ll talk to Fisher about it, if that’s alright with you, see what he thinks.”

A long breath escaped him and Lorreth’s head slumped forward, fingers kneading the fabric of his trousers. “Go ahead.” He said, then raised his gaze to meet hers again. “But don’t say anything to her. Not... Not yet. I need to figure this out for myself first.” With a nod and a tight lipped smile, Saeris left the room and Lorreth was once again staring at you, but this time, with a lot more thoughts swirling in his head.

Reader

When you awoke this time, you instantly felt nauseous, so badly, that your first instinct was to haul yourself out of bed and throw up your guts. The only thing keeping you from doing just that, was the bone crushing, mind numbing pain that pulsed through your knee. It was worse than it had ever been before. You were absolutely certain that if you’d try to move your leg, you’d pass out immediately. “Fuck, fuck, fuck…” You muttered under your breath, your hair sticking to the dampness on your forehead. 

Lorreth was at your side again in an instant, quickly propping some pillows up against the headboard of his bed and gently lifting you, leaning you against them to keep you upright, before he grabbed a towel and dabbed the cold sweat off your face. “Don't move.” He said gently.

“Something’s not right…” You whispered, your chest heaving from the heavy breaths you were taking to fight against the pain that cursed through every nerve ending of your body.

Lorreth’s eyes darkened, he swiftly threw the blanket off to the side and carefully tried to push the fabric of your pants up your leg. “What do you mean?”

“It hurts–” You groaned when the fabric bundled in front of your swollen knee. “It hurts like shit, just take my pants off, it’s not going to work like this.”

Lorreth nodded and unbuttoned your pants, slipping them down your thighs and carefully off of your feet. For a moment, the warrior went utterly still, but you could see the tense twitching of the muscle in his jaw. “I’m going to get Te léna.”

You risked a glance downwards and the nausea you’d been feeling before came back, barreling into your stomach like a fist to the guts. The skin around your knee was a deep purple color, almost leaning into black, streaks of red crept through your skin, up your thigh and down towards your toes. And the entire knee was swollen to at least three times its normal size. “Oh Gods…” You cursed, tears of panic brimming the lines of your eyes.

All color had drained from Lorreth’s face and he forced a gulp down his throat. “I’ll be right back. Do not move a single muscle. Just breathe.”

When he was gone, everything suddenly felt heavier than it had before. The pain worsened, the panic rose and you began shaking, even though you really weren’t cold. On the contrary, sweat still dripped from your forehead like a broken faucet. You knew you weren’t made for Yvelia. No human was. And now, the fates had finally decided to come for you. Were you going to die? Or maybe you’d lose your leg? Would it be just the bottom part or the entire length? You had to press your palm to your chest in a futile attempt to calm your racing heart.

Less than a minute later, Lorreth was back in the room, now followed by Te léna and an extremely worried Saeris, just as he had promised. Te léna crouched down next to your awful looking knee and Saeris instantly sat beside you, the mattress dipping, her expression was calm and collected, but the concern in her gaze was clear as day. “Can you feel this?” Te léna asked, gently pinching the skin of your thigh. You nodded quickly, looking up at Lorreth and away from the carnage that was your leg. The sight of him grounded you, even if he seemed just as worried as the others. Te léna pinched the skin a few more times at different spots on your thigh, before she carefully prodded at the swollen flesh of your knee. Even the slightest movement caused you to gasp in agony.

“Gods and fucking Martyrs.” You cursed when she pressed right in the middle of the injury and tears pricked your eyes.

Te léna looked up at Lorreth, then over to Saeris and shook her head. “I have good news and bad news.”

Both Lorreth and Saeris exchanged a glance. Lorreth took two steps closer and motioned for the healer to speak. “The good news first.”

Te léna sighed deeply. “The good news is that I know for certain what poison laced Malcolm’s blade.”

Lorreth furrowed his brows. “And the bad news?”

“It’s the only poison that gets stronger and spreads faster from the tonic I gave you.” The healer looked at you, remorseful.

“What does that mean? What do we do now?” You asked shakily, panic turning into fear.

It was Saeris that spoke up now, her hand coming to rest on your arm and giving it a squeeze. “It means that we will do whatever we can.”

“There is really only one thing that I can think of.” Té lena straightened and wiped her palms on her apron. “The poison is called Ebonwither. It’s extremely rare, which is why the thought that that could be what the dagger was dipped in, didn’t even occur to me. Like I said, it’s the only poison that thrives off of the tonic I gave you. There’s an antidote, the problem is, that making it is... Tricky, to say the least. I can’t do it. I know someone who can though. She’s a Witch and healer that lives in a village in the Balquhidder Clan Lands.”

“How long will it take you to get to her and back?” Lorreth asked, worry lines creasing his forehead.

Te léna gave a pained half-smile. “Unfortunately, I can’t just go and pick it up. The antidote needs to be mixed freshly and induced the moment it is done. You will have to get her there.” Apologetically, she glanced down at you, forehead slick with sweat, chest heaving. “It’s five days by horse. I don’t recommend taking a Shadow Portal, Ebonwither feeds off of magic. Which is also why the tonic had such a horrid effect.”

Lorreth’s expression hardened and his jaw clenched. Walking around the bed, he crouched down next to you and grabbed your face with the gentleness of a seamstress handling the most expensive silk. Despite all the terror occupying your thoughts, your skin felt scorching hot and tingled under his calloused fingers. “I’m taking you there, alright?” He said, your heart rate wildly spiking.

The room was silent for a moment, except for your frantic in- and exhales. It was hard not to feel like Saeris and Te léna were intruding on something private between you and Lorreth, even though you couldn’t even name what that was. “I think you should take Iseabail. You know how strained the relationship between the Witches and the High Fae is, it’s best to have someone with you who can arbitrate between both parties.” Te léna suggested.

The warrior mumbled a curse, but seemed to agree. One of his hands had come down to hold on to your forearm, the other still cupped your cheek. Te léna was right, it wouldn’t do well if a human and a High Fae simply popped up on Witch turf, especially with the leader of said territory being a total lunatic. “Iseabail it is.”

It didn’t sit right with you though. Iseabail joining you would mean taking her away from aiding Everlayne and interrupting her work to find a cure for her coma. You were still human, the Gods only knew how much time you’d have left anyway. Probably not much, with or without the poison currently crawling under your skin. “No, Iseabail is needed here– Everlayne–” You croaked out between grimaces.

Lorreth was just about to snap at you, no doubt, but Saeris spoke first, “Everlayne’s recovery is stable. You are not. We need to act fast. Iseabail is joining.”

“I’m afraid your sister is right.” Te léna said. “The fact that she’s the Balquhidder Clan Heir will make this a lot quicker and easier once you enter their lands. And besides that, she’s also a formidable healer, which I suspect you’ll need on your way there.”

All of it made sense and you were in way too much pain and way too exhausted to argue any further. Saeris laced her fingers with yours and leaned over to press her forehead against the side of your head. “I’d come with you, too. In a heartbeat. But considering I’m still the fucking Queen of this shithole…”

“It’s alright, Saeris.” You assured and gave a small smile. “Will you continue my research in the library?”

“Of course, I will.” She promised. “Just... Don’t die, okay?”

You huffed a chuckle that caused you to wince again. “I’ll try.”

“I’ll go back to Cahlish, inform Iseabail, discuss a few details about your condition with her and help her pack whatever is needed on the journey.” Te léna announced. “I wish you the best. I’ll ask the Fates to return you safely.” It sounded like a last goodbye, so you didn’t have it in you to press words past the looming lump in your throat.

For the next hour, Lorreth and Saeris packed a couple of bags in record speed. One for Lorreth, one for you, one for supplies. By the way he methodically placed everything, it was easy to tell that he had hundreds of years of experience as a warrior. There was no doubt in your mind that he had often slept in tents, or outside, traveling, sleeping with one eye open. You felt absolutely at ease with him, despite the fact that it felt like several animals were yanking and biting on your leg at once. Saeris had packed a few changes of clothes for you and returned with the prepared bag from your quarters. “That should be all. The horses are also ready to go.”

The thought of having to leave the bed and going on a horse's back with the pain that seared through your limp was... unpleasant, to say the least. It had already been established that you were in no way capable of riding a horse by yourself. Lorreth would ride with you. In general, he’d have to take care of you as if you were an imbecile for the next few days and somehow that made your chest constrict and not in the good, delightful way it usually did. “You don’t have to do this, Lorreth. It’s a lot to ask of you.” You stated, if only to cleanse you off of the guilt you felt whenever he put his own duties on hold to play babysitter for a deranged human. Lorreth scoffed and gave you a look that was all too familiar. The one that told you that you were being ridiculous and apparently, he wasn’t even going to grace what you had just said with a reply.

Since it was impossible for you to even think about moving, the three of you waited in Lorreth’s room until Iseabail arrived. The Witch brought a satchel full of healing supplies and a bag for herself. 

“Thanks for doing this, Iseabail…” You said instantly. The two of you had become friends too during the past few weeks, bonding over the same goal– saving Everlayne. How Fisher had gotten the heir to the Balquhidder Witch Clan to agree to come to Cahlish for an unknown amount of time, you had no idea. But your sister’s mate was persuasive. In a joint effort with Te léna, Iseabail had even managed to extract the Quicksilver from Fisher’s eye, taking a huge weight off of everyone’s shoulders. At least now he wasn’t going to go insane. Now there was just Everlayne and her never-ending coma and you and your poisoned knee. Baby steps. A somber expression took over her face as she sat on the edge of the bed. 

“We have a hard journey ahead. The poison has already spread quite a bit... I’ll give you tonics to ease the pain, so you can at least move. Is that okay?”

“Gods yes, I’d drink anything at this point.”

She pulled a vial of pale yellowish liquid out of her bag, opened it and handed it to you. As you gulped it down, your body relaxed and for the first time in hours, it didn’t feel like your blood was burning and boiling you alive. The pain was still there, but it felt somewhat numb, dull even. It was manageable. Iseabail nodded and got to her feet again, her long, copper locks flowing down her back. You had to admit that she was a sight to behold– strong and confident, dressed in trousers and brown boots, a tight dark corset accentuating the perfect curves of her body. She and Lorreth would make a beautiful pair. Suddenly, you felt utterly stupid. Why would Lorreth ever look at you, if females like Iseabail existed? Gorgeous, skilled, brave– 

“I think we can go then.” The Witch announced and you swallowed down the dreadful feeling of wanting something you could never have. You sat up a little, trying to move your legs over the edge of the bed, but even though the tonic worked wonders, the pain was nowhere near gone and you grimaced.

“Don’t. I’ll carry you.” The firm way Lorreth barked the order left absolutely no space for arguing. Saeris looked like she was seconds away from fully bursting into tears. You wouldn’t fare much better if it were the other way around. Lorreth stepped to the bedside you were laying on and pushed his hands beneath your body, trying his hardest not to cause you any more harm. “Wrap your arms around my neck.” He instructed and you obeyed, then he lifted you up, holding you against his chest.