She couldn't believe how much better she felt after trying to help that rabbit. It had made her feel good, even though her help didn't last long, but now her insides were once again heaving and making her feel horrible. Everyone had kept telling her to take a healing potion. Like that would help the party. As it was they had used up all their potions and all their healing magic trying to save Shandra.
No, she would just have to live with a little womanly harassment. Those men had no clue what it was like and she wasn't about to tell any of them how much it was bothering her. She would have to kill that ranger if he started teasing her about not being able to handle being a woman.
Then again, her cycle was over so the pain should have been ebbing long ago. It wasn't. It just kept nagging her and getting worse. At least they had stopped at a stream earlier so they could wash gore off of themselves. She now smelled relatively normal.
Bishop had disappeared into the woods ahead of her. She thought about it for a moment and glanced back towards the others. They were now too far away for her to see them clearly but they were definitely setting up camp.
It looked like Khelgar had gotten a lean-to up. At least she had taught him enough survival skills for him to know there was going to be a nasty storm that night. She sighed when she realized it might storm for at least another day. Too bad for that. They could wait it out. She was in no mood to slosh in muck. As long as Casavir made sure her bedding was soft, and she knew that he would, then she did not care if they stayed there a week. It felt as if she could sleep that long.
Avera turned back to the woods and carefully stepped between a couple of trees. She kept her wits about her watching for danger. Something was bothering her and she wasn't sure what it was. It seemed almost like she was being stalked. She wouldn't put that past the ranger.
As she followed Bishop's tracks she became less and less sure of coming into the woods alone. She put her bow onto her back and carefully lifted her mace from it's hook. Slowly she walked up a small incline and stopped short at the top.
The knife was stopped by her mace only an inch from her throat. Bishop's grin hovered just above it. His breath was minty. Leave it to a ranger to find fresh herbs while setting up an ambush site.
He pulled the knife back and sheathed it but his face was still close, "Very good. Never trust anyone. You just might live a little longer, Chicadee."
She put her mace back in it's place and looked into the ranger's golden brown eyes. Funny how his eyes reminded her of fresh, dark honey. It was also amusing that he had made sure to choose an attack spot where they could be at eye level, probably easier to go for the throat, "Just keeping me on my toes I see." He gave her a slow smile, "So I am curious. Why are you now calling me a bird."
"Not just a bird," He murmured while watching her face, "A chickadee."
"I am so sorry to have offended the honor of your naming game."
He snorted and waved off the comment with a flick of his fingers, "Honor is for paladins." He sniffed the air, "A chickadee is a pretty little songbird that seems unremarkable and vulnerable. When winter comes and you think it is stupid to stick around you find that this bird not only has a beautiful song but it also has a lot of hidden strengths."
"So I am a tough, pretty little songbird?" She mulled it over for a moment and nodded her head, "Ok. I'm touched. Thank you."
She turned to get back on with the hunting but he grabbed her arm and pulled her close. The feel of his body against hers confused her enough that he was able to swing her into a tight embrace and kiss her. There was a heat she had never expected from him and his kiss was intoxicating. Avera was confused but it felt so good. It was nothing she had ever known before. She couldn't help but respond in kind.
But this isn't Casavir. Her eyes snapped open and she accidentally bit his lip as she pulled away. Then her system went haywire.
Errumph.
Bishop backed up in surprise. She turned from him and fell to her knees then threw up into the bushes just below the hillock. He jumped back in shock, "That wasn't the reaction I was looking for."
Avera continued to get sick then sputtered. Bishop leaned towards her with a canteen and she looked at him through cloudy eyes then flopped over.
He stood there for a moment trying to figure out what to do. If he still wanted her dead then this would be a perfect time to just leave her. But there was something in that kiss. If he could just … what was he thinking? He should walk away but his feet would not move.
Karnwyr bounced up the incline, stood over her and whimpered. Bishop watched as his companion nudged the woman's head and tried to lick her awake. Then the dire wolf looked up at him, pain in his eyes.
Bishop bit his lip and swore, "Why in the world do you like her? Even better, why won't you tell me why?"
He had to admit that this was the most fun he'd had in a long time and if this little woman could keep him this amused it would be worth not letting her die. He knew the paladin cared but what were the odds of that man getting past his honor before she went looking in other avenues instead? And he could quicken her search.
And of course, Karnwyr liked her a lot for some strange reason. He knew he had no healing potions left so he gently lifted her and loped back the way they had come.
nnn
Shandra wiped her brow as she looked over the field. It was getting dark and Khelgar had announced it would be raining so she hoped Bishop and Avera would get back soon. She was about to turn when she saw two figures heading in their direction, "It looks like they are coming back and Bishop has something in his arms."
"Tell me they caught a deer. Tell me they caught a lovely young deer." Khelgar licked his lips.
Casavir leaped to his feet and ran towards Bishop. Khelgar blinked then noticed why the paladin had moved so fast.
"What did you do to her?" Casavir challenged Bishop as he touched Avera's face. She was pale but had no visible wounds.
"I did nothing. We were talking then she got sick and just dropped." His voice trembled and he was amazed that this woman had shaken him up so badly.
Karnwyr walked back and forth and whined at the paladin.
Casavir took her limp form from the ranger and brought her closer to the fire. Khelgar pulled out a fur for him to lie her down on.
"Can't you just heal her, paladin?" Bishop looked over the otherman to see what he was doing.
The paladin snarled as he removed her pack, "I have little healing left and I don't know what is wrong. I healed all her open wounds earlier." He felt for a pulse, listened to her chest and checked inside her mouth, "What in Tyr's name is wrong?"
He started pulling her leathers off when Shandra gasped, "What in the world are you doing? I thought you were a paladin?"
"This is no time for chivalry. If I don't find out what is wrong, and fast, then she will die." He whispered under his breath, "And I can't loose her."
Shandra backed up. She could not believe the fury in his voice. He no longer seemed like the cool, collected man they had been traveling with. There was no paladin charm in his voice now.
Khelgar ran over with a pot of warm water and put it down close by, "I thought you might want this. I keep hearing people yell for it when there's a baby on the way so I guessed it could help with this as well."
Casavir looked up at Shandra, "There are light, clean clothes in her pack." He sneered at the darkening sky, "And I need that chalice she likes so much."
Shandra handed him the chalice and he cast a light spell from it onto the dying hobbit. Systematically he felt around her body, checked her ribs and looked for anything out of the ordinary.
"I had thought she was just having her womanly pains." Khelgar muttered.
The paladin turned and blinked at the dwarf, "What?"
"Well, she's been having gut pains but didn't want to use the healing potions 'cause she thought it was just that time and wanted to save the potions for real needs. Neeshka even gave her some mallow tea and chocolate."
"I thought it smelled like mallow tea in that canteen of hers." Bishop shrugged, "She had been drinking it a lot even before we got to Ember."
He swung his head back to Avera and gently pushed on her tummy. She cried out even though she was still unconscious. Casavir closed his eyes and sat on his heels.
"So?" Bishop looked down at them.
"Appendicitis." Casavir trembled as he thought of what he had to do.
"Ouch." The ranger looked out at the field, "Have you ever …"
"Yes. Once."
"What do you mean? What are you talking about?" Shandra was near hysterics. This little woman had risked her life for her and here she was dying from some unknown thing and they had nothing to heal her with.
Casavir licked dry lips, "She has an organ that has burst. We used up all our healing potions and I have very little lay on hands spell left. If we wait then she will die, so …" He closed his eyes and tried to keep his voice calm then started taking out equipment from his and Avera's packs, "I am going to have to cut her open, remove the appendix, quick heal where it was, clean out gangrene if there is any and then hopefully have enough energy to heal the incision. If I don't then I will have to stitch her up. Hopefully, the rest will keep until I have the ability to do a full heal on her."
"Damn it, lass. If ye'd just taken a heal potion when it first hurt."
"Yes but when it first hurt she knew we were going into danger," Bishop glared at Shandra, "To save the farm girl. We needed all the supplies for what she thought would be more life threatening."
"I never saw her drink a potion once. Just healed up the outside wounds, fought back the pain and ran back into the fray." Khelgar looked like he was going to hit something.
Shandra looked stricken as Casavir examined Avera's skinning knife.
"Do you think you can do it?" Bishop put a strap of leather belt down with all the other supplies.
"I have no choice, do I?" Casavir lifted a deep slumber scroll from the ground and cast it on Avera thinking about how much more difficult it would have been if she had not already been unconscious. It would have been gut wrenching to look into those ice blue eyes and do this. Not like this alone wasn't gut wrenching, "Khelgar, put the belt in her mouth and hold her head."
The dwarf did as he was told without question. He rubbed the hobbit's forehead and brought his hand back, "She's boiling up, lad."
Casavir pulled back her undershirt and trews then washed her stomach to make sure to have it as clean as possible. As he got ready to make his incision, Bishop looked over and whistled, "That is some scar just under her ribcage!"
Khelgar took a peek, "That's no normal scar. It looks like someone cut her open like a spring lamb."
Casavir grumbled, "She got it when she was young." He ignored the looks he got for knowing about the scar and got down to business. He had no time for anything else.
nnn
She crawled into the makeshift tent and touched his arm, "Here's some stew."
"I'm not hungry." His voice was low. Depressed.
"You have to eat something if you want to get your healing powers back and do more for her."
He took the stew without looking away from Avera's sleeping face, "You are right, of course. I'm sorry for yelling at you earlier."
"Hey, you were worried. She will be ok. She's one tough little woman." She tried to sound encouraging but knew she sounded just as worried as the paladin.
Casavir didn't answer. He leaned back with his stew and tapped at it with his spoon.
Shandra backed out of the tent and sat down beside the dwarf, "He cares for her a lot, doesn't he?"
Bishop poked a burning log with his stick as Khelgar looked in the pot with the rabbit stew. They were all too quiet and it was driving Shandra nuts.
"We all care for her, lass."
"Yes but Casavir … well, he's so stricken. I mean, when he uses that paladin charm of his you get all tingly but when he speaks of or to Avera it's so different. It makes you feel comforted and warm. It's like cuddling up in front of the fireplace." She glanced back at the tent, "Has he ever used his paladin charm on her?"
Khelgar snickered, "Never, lass."
"Why do you think that is?"
"Well, when they first met Avera made damned sure he knew she was taking no guff. She downright told him we were doing ok fighting them orcs on our own then told him we didn't need him and to just tell us where the Eyegouger cave was. He seemed rather amused by this little hobbit telling a huge, armor clad human what for."
"That sounds like her, alright." Bishop poked another log.
"I wonder why he used that charm on me."
Bishop looked up from the coals, anger bright in his eyes, "Because you were being an unreasonable fool."
Khelgar blinked in surprise.
"I do admit that I was wrong. But trouble does seem to follow her …"
"Follow her? Dammit woman the trouble was there before she even got near you. The lizardmen would have burned your barn down whether she was there or not. Those gith were after you and you didn't even try to save yourself. She saved your worthless hide knowing full well that they wanted to kill her. Then you blamed her for their attack. When you got a few pretty words from the paladin you fell all over yourself with thanks." Bishop stood and stalked off into the woods.
Shandra stared in disbelief, "I thought he didn't like her."
"That was before this trip. I think she surprised him by being competent." Khelgar eyed where the ranger had disappeared. He spooned up some stew for them and handed a bowl to her.
"Does he ever smile?"
Khelgar almost choked, "Casavir?" At her nod he shook his head, "I've never seen the like, lass! I don't know about Avera but I do know that Grobnar and Neeshka have seen him smile."
She picked up her stew, "But I thought he didn't like Neeshka much."
"I never said they made him smile. They said they have seen him smile. I would have thought it was as likely as finding the Wendersnaven but I believe them."
"When did they see him smile?"
"They saw it when they were on night watch with him. We always try to have a 'brick boy,' as Avera calls us, on a watch so it's me or Casavir on two of the watches. So I don't get to see it as I'm always asleep when he is on watch. But I'm told that if he doesn't think you are looking, and Avera is not on watch with him, then he watches our leader sleep and he smiles."
nnn
The rain had started an hour ago. It made a light pitter patter on the oiled canvas as the drops fell. There was a fire inside the tent and for once he was happy to have had Bishop around as he had set it up.
He cursed under his breath as he glanced at the sleeping forms of his companions. The others slept across from him with Khelgar between the farm girl and the ranger. The dire wolf curled up close to the door. Casavir was awake, on watch because everyone knew he wouldn't sleep. Avera was beside him. She was still unconscious but at least she was breathing well.
He checked the bandaging and made sure the furs and blankets were wrapped around her so no cold could get in. Then he looked around at the tent for any cracks that would let in cold air but Khelgar had done very well. He was fidgeting and he knew it but he did not know what else to do. She had been asleep for hours now and his healing abilities were not working quite yet. At least it wouldn't be long until he could heal her.
"Casavir?"
He looked down and smiled as he saw her eyes open.
"You can't be my paladin."
"What?"
"You're smiling. My paladin seldom smiles."
He laughed, "It is your paladin, my lady." Her voice was rough and quiet but he didn't care.
Her eyes closed for a moment but not long enough for him to school his features, "Casavir? Are you ok?"
Shocked that she could see the concern on his face, he changed the subject, "That man who we have taken on with us, Bishop. I do not trust him, and I do not like the way he looks at you."
Amusement warred in her and won, "Why, I didn't know you cared."
He chuckled at her old joke, "You know I do." There was laughter in his eyes, then they turned serious, full of concern, "But forgive me. It is not my affair, I only felt... compelled to warn you."
"Since when have I not listened to you when you had concerns?"
"Never." He leaned over to give her a kiss on her forehead but found himself kissing her lips instead. She hungrily leaned into the kiss and for a time all was well. Then he pulled himself back and turned his head.
"I'm sorry, Avera. That was ... forward of me."
She cupped his face with one hand and sighed, "It's ok, Casavir. It's more than ok." Her fingers trailed his cheek, "What happened?"
"Appendicitis."
"Ouch." She searched his face, "You had to operate, didn't you?"
"Yes."
"That explains the pain." She tried to pull herself up to be able to look at his face better. She grunted as the wound complained to her and she snapped her eyes shut.
He put a hand on her shoulder, "No. Do not try to move. You will open the incision." He shuffled his body so that they were on eye level with each other and felt her forehead, "I will be able to do a full healing soon, my lady."
"How soon?" She was enjoying the softness in his voice. It was like a drug to her.
Casavir thought it over for a moment, "Maybe now." He pulled the blankets and furs back then removed the bandages. He took a moment to gather his energies then placed his hand on the incision.
Avera put her hand on top of his while he started his low chant. The pain started to ebb, making her realize that his abilities had definitely been restored. She moved the covers back over them as she started to shiver and cuddled closer. His hand vibrated with the spell and she couldn't stop a little moan from escaping her lips. It all felt too good.
He finished chanting and looked down into her eyes, "It isn't perfect, my lady, but I will check it later in the day. You may need another healing then."
She kissed his lips and watched as he closed his eyes, allowing the bond to become stronger and more passionate. She shifted her body and realized that the movement had made his hand slide down her tummy to just above her trews. There was a sharp intake of breath and his eyes flung open.
Her hand was still on top of his so she gave it a gentle squeeze and brought his hand back to her hip. There was no sense in having him panic on her. She teased his tongue with hers, but the feel of his hand being so close to that area had been too much for him. He pulled his hand out from under the covers and gently touched her neck, "Avera. We cannot."
"I know we can't do anything here." She glanced towards the other forms asleep across from them.
He bit his lip, "No. We cannot. I cannot dishonor you like this. You just had a life and death experience …"
One eyebrow went up as her other eye narrowed. He realized too late that he had chosen the wrong words, "What? Are you trying to say that I'm interested because I could have died? That my feelings are just out of thanks?"
Her voice was cold and Casavir couldn't think, "Avera, I did not mean to imply that your feelings are not real."
"Just that they are wrong." Avera stood, tripped over his legs and grabbed her boots.
"No," He felt like he was fighting a raging river pulling him away, "It isn't like that."
As Casavir tried to scramble from the blankets and furs, she pulled her boots on and ran outside in only her undershirt and trews. Her form flitted into the rain as he tromped out into the mud. The dire wolf followed and ran after her.
"Dammit!" He swore as he tried to follow in her wake. His boots were sucked down by the mud and he felt more miserable every moment but he had to find her.
nnn
He sat at the fire, drenched but drying out, head in his hands, and completely miserable. At least it had not continued raining like it had threatened to the night before. The others were making headway in packing up camp while he had already completed his chores.
"So where has the lass gone?" Khelgar asked.
Casavir scratched his head, "I have no idea."
The dwarf took pity on the paladin, "She'll be back. Don't worry about that."
So many horrible scenes of what could have happened trailed through Casavir's mind. The worst of them all was of her hating him now. He could not handle that.
Bishop strode over, clearly as happy as the early bird that got the worm. He sniffed the air and stretched his arms in the morning sun, "So when will be leaving?"
"Once Avera gets back, lad."
Casavir glanced up at the man, "Have you seen any signs of her?"
The ranger grinned at the larger man, "No." He tested the air, "Should I have? I really don't know where she could have gone in all that rain." Bishop looked down at Casavir, a knowing sneer on his face, "She must have really been upset to have run off like that in such horrible weather."
Casavir stood and glared down at the ranger, then turned and stalked over to their packs.
Shandra got off her log and brushed herself off. As she stood, she noticed the small form of their leader standing behind her. Her leopard, Kathin stood on one side as Karnwyr stood on the other side, nuzzling the little woman's hair. How she, the leopard and that dire wolf, were able to sneak up on a person like that was beyond her, "Avera!"
Everyone turned to look at the little woman. She looked tired but no worse than that.
Khelgar walked over to her and patted her back, "Are ye alright, lass?"
"Aye." She said with little feeling to her voice. Her eyes traveled over the camp and she strode forward to her pack. On top was her leather armor. She quickly pulled the armor on over her light clothes, and wiggled to get it all just right.
She looked up to see Casavir standing over her, "Avera?"
Her eyes shut, "Not now, please."
He was stopped by the strain in her voice. She never sounded that way and it tore him up that he was the reason for it, "Ok."
The resigned sound to his voice broke through her brooding. She sighed and leaned against his leg, all the while watching up into his face, "We'll talk later some time, ok?" A slight smile reached her lips.
Casavir nodded, encouraged now that she seemed to feel at least a bit better.
"Ok, let's pack up and get going." Avera grabbed her pack and flung it onto her back, "I want to get back to the Flagon as soon as possible."