As always in Pellinor, dinner was delicious. Sienne had fit right in to the group of friends. At first she had been shy and hesitant but with a little prompting from Maerad and Sylvia she had joined in the conversation like any old friend would.
Maerad soon excused herself, though she would've loved to stay longer. Cadvan also excused himself. He scooped Maerad into his arms, they said their farewells and exited the dining room.
As Cadvan carried Maerad back to her room he couldn't help but think about the war raging through the land. For the past few days he'd had the feeling that he would be leaving soon and Maerad would not be coming with him.
"Cadvan quit thinking so hard, you are going to end up with those lines permanently etched into your face."
He laughed and Maerad felt it rumble through his chest.
"Don't worry they won't be etched into my face any time soon."
"What were you thinking about?"
"Lirigon." He didn't want to upset her any sooner than was necessary, but instead he felt her tense up in his arms.
"It's beautiful there. My family's home is still there, I would love to show it to you. We could get away from all the chaos and spend some time alone. Hide away for awhile where no one can find us."
"What about Ilar?"
"Maerad what happened with Ilar was an accident, a terrible accident but she forgave you. Maerad, no bard is without fault. Look what happened to me. Yes, I was alone for awhile but I was forgiven. You are young and you just saved the world. There will be those that will want to do the same to you that they did to me, however there are those that see you as Elednor the Fire Lily, the one who saved us from Sharma. They will forgive you and protect you from those who would exile you. And Maerad you have me, I will never leave you alone. Neither will Hem, Malgorn, Indik, Sylvia, Saliman or Hekibel. They love you for who you are, no matter what your faults may be."
They entered her room and he gently set her on her feet. He tilted her chin up so he could look into her eyes.
"Maerad you are no longer alone, you have family and friends who love you. Leave the past in the past. We will worry about the topic of Ilar when it comes time to cross that bridge. Until then don't worry Maerad. Go to bed get some rest. I will see you in the morning."
He placed a gentle kiss on her lips and helped her sit on her bed.
"Goodnight Cadvan."
"Goodnight Maerad."
As Maerad got ready for bed she thought on the past year. So much had happened and was still happening. Sharma was gone but the war still raged. Turbansk was in ruins and Norloch was in chaos. She had survived Enkir's spell, but she was weaker than ever. If another attack came she probably wouldn't survive. When would it all stop? Cadvan spoke of Lirigon as if it was a sanctuary. Like there was something there that she didn't know about. Maybe Lirigon was a better idea than she originally thought.
When she shifted her weight to reach for her nightgown she felt the blankets shift and slide out from under her. When she came to, she was on the floor, her hip and shoulder were sore and would probably bruise. Her head was ringing. She had hit her head on the floor hard enough that it had knocked her out. She untangled herself from the blankets and looked up at her bed. She grabbed ahold of the nearest blankets and began to pull herself up, but, halfway there she plopped back onto the floor and tore the blankets from their place on the bed.
She looked around the room for anything else she could use to get back up. The chair was on one side of the room as was her vanity and stool. Deciding the chair was closer, she crawled over to it, meanwhile, looking out for her nightgown. It wasn't anywhere to be found. The traitorous thing was probably still on her bed.
As she tried to figure out the best way to pull herself up, tears began to run down her face. Hopeless and helpless. That's what she was.
'Maerad? Are you okay?' Cadvan's mind reaching out to hers, she reached back.
'No, I'm stuck on the floor without my nightgown and no way to get back on my bed'
It wasn't long before he was by her side.
"I couldn't find your night gown, just use this." He said handing her his own shirt.
"Are you alright?"
"No, I can't keep doing this Cadvan. I can barely walk, if I fall I'm helpless to get back up by myself. Why am I not healing faster?"
He pulled her into his arms and carried her back to her bed, he sat down with her In his lap, held her close and rubbed circles into her back.
"Because you should be dead and you survived. Maerad Enkir's spell was dead set on killing you. It will just take time and patience. You are strong Maerad, you'll pull through,"
"I don't feel like I'm strong right now. I'm leaning on you so much Cadvan and you're leaving soon. Don't deny it," she said when she heard him start to protest, "I know you can feel it too."
He sighed, of course she had felt it too.
" I won't leave until I have to Maerad, you won't be alone though even if I do, you have your brother and Sylvia and Malgorn and Saliman and Hekibel. You will be okay."
"Just don't leave me."
"I'm sorry Maerad but you know just as well as I do that fate will have it's way."
"Then stay with me tonight?"
"Of course."
As she drifted off to sleep in her arms, the feeling that had grown all week became an ache. The time to leave was soon and he wouldn't be seeing her for a long time.
AN: Sorry guys it's been a while and I haven't had time to write or edit. I went on vacation last week and made it a point to write. I was able to write five chapters and plan seven others. Hopefully updates will be more frequent now. I would love to here what you guys thought of this chapter, please review and if you do, as always, you'll get a preview of the next chapter! let me know what you guys think!
~MA
AN 2.0: Thanks to the reader who pointed out the format went screwy. It is now fixed and I hope you get to read it!
