Author's Notes: Wow, I'm so impressed you all like my little experiment so far! And you are all far too clever, of course :).
"Not all of you here are so determined to cloak yourselves in anonymity, you know."
I gritted my teeth and did not answer as I tended to the duties around the healing wing of the Temple. The unexpected visitor this morning had alerted me to the disorder that was the supply closet, and despite my reluctance to spend time in this rogue's presence, I could not in good faith leave a mess that needed fixing. He did not seem to mind that I was ignoring him, and continued talking as I restocked the linen bandages and antiseptic.
"Now Priestess Lenora, and Priestess Mavilan, they had no problem sharing with me their names. They were very friendly this morning, in fact."
I heard a shift in the blankets, and at the very edge of my vision, I saw him lean up on one elbow to address me more directly. I sorted the potions in their vials, putting them in their properly labeled place, but in spite of myself, I snuck quick glances at him under my eyelashes.
"But not you, Love. Priestess."
"I am not concerned with what others have chosen to disclose. Here in the Temple I am simply Priestess, a Servant of Elune, and I do not cling to my individuality, so that I may become closer to Her presence."
They were lofty words, but they sounded nervous to my ears. As if I needed to defend myself to this ruffian. My hand shook as I put the last vial in its holder, and it hit the one next to it hard. The glass was old and it shattered in my hand, slicing my palm open. I gasped in shock and dropped it, holding my hand tightly to staunch the blood that was dripping onto the floor. Almost immediately, the rogue was kneeling beside me, holding his own hands over mine, pressing a clean bandage from the table onto the cut. To my horror, I felt the tips of my ears grow red and I couldn't stop my voice from shaking.
"Please release my hands."
He complied, holding his hands up and away from me. "Just helping, Love. You better take care of that before you lose too much blood."
Feeling the flush travel from my ears to my cheeks, I bit down on my cheek hard, enough to focus my mind, and healed the cut over. When the glow receded, the rogue pulled himself back to standing, and I saw his face turn pale as he gripped the edge of his cot. I felt a pang of guilt for being sharp with him for trying to help, almost immediately followed by anger. I did not ASK him to help.
"Sir, you should not be up from your cot yet. Your injuries have barely begun to heal."
"I'm seeing that." His voice sounded strained.
I had a fluttering feeling in my stomach that this entire situation was dissolving into something out of my control. I helped the injured rogue back onto his cot without a word, and as quickly as I could cleaned up the broken vial. The late afternoon shift came in then, talking quietly behind their hands, and I saw my escape. With only a sharp nod, I fled the room.