Chapter 02

"Again," Templar Michael said as he danced triumphantly around Meredith and this only infuriated her. She was not used to losing and it was showing. She tried in vain to block another incoming attack, but she was not successful. She felt the blade cut her arm and it enraged her and with the determination of a Mabari hound, she went in for the attack and she deftly stuck her leg out as he charged her effectively tripping him up and he went flailing to the ground. She laughed loudly as she pranced around him, but she was distracted by Orsino who was watching her from the shadows. She felt her confidence waiver and she instinctively wanted to go to him, but as she moved, she felt the vice like grip of Michael's hand on her leg and before she realised it, he tripped her, sending her sprawling across the gravel.

"What did I tell you about not losing your focus, Meredith?" Michael asked, looming over her. She tried to move, but she only whimpered. She was injured, but she was not sure where except for the dull throbbing pain in her ribs. She tried again to sit up, but she collapsed onto her stomach and she started sobbing much to her chagrin.

Orsino swallowed hard when Meredith tried to sit up and she failed miserably. He realised she was injured and the fact that a templar had harmed her, enraged him, but he quickly composed himself as he made his way to where she was lying on her stomach.

"Meredith?" Orsino enquired as he hesitantly touched her back. He felt her muscles tense and she whimpered. She turned her head and Orsino was surprised to see the tears running freely down her cheek. He gently wiped them away.

"Can you move?" he asked softly not caring if the templars saw the deep concern and anxiety on his face and it wouldn't surprise him if they saw something else.

"Orsino," she whimpered. He indicated Michael to help him and he reluctantly obliged. He hated mages and the less he had to do with them the better.

"Was it really necessary to do that?" Orsino asked.

"It was a practise round, First Enchanter. If she kept her focus, it would not have happened," Michael replied.

They gently turned Meredith onto her back and she gazed unseeingly at the sky above her. Her whole body was throbbing painfully and it was not only because she was injured. Orsino's touch invoked intense emotion in her and she was barely keeping her true emotions from showing.

"Meredith?" Orsino called. She blinked and the welcome face of Orsino slowly came into focus, but it faded when she felt another stab of pain. She tried to find something to hold onto her and Orsino realised what she wanted. He reluctantly reached for her hand and with the last bit of strength he had, he stifled the soft sigh that was threatening to burst forth as she curled her hand into his.

"I will need to get her to the sanatorium, Michael. Please will you assist me?" Orsino asked.

"Why? What is wrong with her?" Michael asked.

"Can you not hear by her laboured breathing? As good as your intentions were at teaching her a lesson, I think you have broken a couple of her ribs," Orsino replied

"Maker, help me that was not my intention. It was only a practise round, First Enchanter," Michael explained.

"I know, but please help me?" Orsino asked.

"Do you think I can lift her?" he asked.

"No, we need a stretcher," Orsino replied.

"I will fetch one. You sit tight and I won't be long," Michael offered. He was feeling terrible. He never meant to hurt the woman, but he had and by the deep concern in Orsino's eyes, it was serious.

"Meredith?" Orsino called softly as he gently slapped her cheeks. She could feel his touch as if from a distance and she squirmed restlessly.

"Lay still," Orsino whispered; gently pressing his hand against her chest and he tried his best to avoid touching her small breasts and much to his surprise, she quietened down.

"Can you hear me?" Orsino asked, touching her cheek gently.

"Orsino?" she whispered hoarsely.

"I'm here and I will have you fixed up in no time," he said softly. He was gazing at her and for the first time, he noticed how fine her features were. He couldn't resist lightly running his finger along her jawline

o0o

Meredith stirred restlessly as Orsino and Michael placed her onto a very comfortable bed, but she did not have the energy to open her eyes. She was in too much pain and she was drifting in and out of consciousness.

"Do you require further assistance?" Michael enquired. Orsino shook his head.

"I will take it from here, but I might need to use my healing magic," Orsino explained.

"As long as it is only healing magic you intend using, mage," Michael warned. Orsino sighed audibly.

"I don't intending using anything but –," he trailed away as Meredith whispered his name. Michael frowned his disapproval because he knew how they felt about each other even if they weren't quite aware of that fact themselves.

"Leave us, otherwise I will not be able to focus my magic," Orsino said politely. Michael took this as his permission to leave and he hastily walked away from them and out of the door. Orsino sighed in relief as he started unbuckling her light chestpiece. She only wore light armour during her training and he knew this was why she was injured. He watched her face as he removed the last buckle of her chest piece. He lifted her slightly to gain access to the straps at the back and his close proximity roused her completely.

"What...What are you doing?" she asked.

"Please try to relax, otherwise you will make it worse and please don't look at me in that way," he said quietly. Her blue eyes were full of distrust and he gently touched her cheek.

"I won't harm you, Meredith," he said softly. He removed her chest piece and he placed it on the chair next to the bed. He took a deep breath before he faced her because he knew his face would betray him.

"I am in so much pain," she whispered as he gently helped her lie against the pillows. He noticed the swell of her small breasts beneath her bra band and he wondered how they would feel in his hands, but he pushed the thought aside when he noticed the slight bruising on her rib cage. He gently examined her, trying his best not cause more discomfit, but she stayed his hands and she started crying again.

"Mmm...I know what you need...It will help you with the pain and it will give me the chance to heal you," he said softy as he bustled off to the medicine cabinet that was not too far from her bed. He took out a bottle of elfroot potion and he went back to her, but he paused a few feet away from her. She had removed her breast band and she was lying with eyes half-closed against the pillows.

"Drink some of this," Orsino said in an effort to distract himself from this beautiful woman who was lying on the bed looking so helpless and vulnerable.

"What is it?" she asked with a hint of suspicion in her voice.

"Elfroot potion...It will help, trust me, Meredith. Please trust me," he implored. She looked at his earnest expression and what she saw took her by complete surprise. He was concerned about her and she also saw a hint of desire in his beautiful green eyes. She always suspected he was interested in her and, maker help her, she was deeply attracted to him and she had been since she joined the Order five years ago.

"I...I do trust you...Will you please help me up?" she asked as she tried to sit up, but she whimpered and she could not prevent the hot tears from spilling over.

"Let me help you, Merri," he said softly as he pushed her down. He lightly ran his hands along her rib cage, frowning in concentration.

"How...How did you know?" she asked. Amelia was the only person who ever called her Merri, she recalled sadly. She missed her sister even though her sister killed her parents and most of the villagers when a demon possessed her.

"What?" he asked distractedly. He was finding it increasingly difficult to control his emotions. He continued examining her and when he felt the cracked rib beneath his hand, he drew on his healing magic.

"You called me Merri...How...How did you know?" she asked.

"I...I have always thought of you as Merri," he replied, blushing slightly. He was also finding it difficult to focus his magic. He wasn't too sure if it was the Lyrium running in her veins that was reacting to his mana or the fact that he was fully aroused. He was thankful for his robes. At least she wouldn't see, but now she was gazing at him and she gently reached out and touched his cheek.

"You are beautiful," she whispered and he sighed impatiently.

"Just take it easy," he said as he gently removed her hand and once again she curled it into his. He simply could not resist, so he brought her hand to his lips and he kissed it. She made no move to stop him so he gently kissed it again savouring in the softness of her skin.

He caught her eye and to his surprise, she was blushing and her blue eyes were sparkling. She wanted him, that much was certain, but common sense prevailed. He lowered her hand onto her chest and he resumed his healing of her. She allowed her eyes to close and she held fast to the warmth his kiss left on her hand.

He quickly covered her with a sheet because she was fast asleep and he wanted to protect her modesty. He pulled a chair closer to the bed and he sat down. He was going to keep vigil until he was certain she was out of any immediate danger.