The Silent Trip Home

The men took turns over the next week waiting by Lily's side. She would wake occasionally, screaming from whatever nightmare had plagued her but as she got her strength back the dreams lessened, but she always woke with a start. The inn keepers wife helped her wash off and change out of her nightgown. Lily was very grateful for that, they all were. Laying in clean soft clothes helped her mood immensely. On the sixth day Dante carried her downstairs for a little walk outside but after ten minutes she was exhausted and Dante had to carry her back to the room and she fell asleep in his arms. "She's still too pale Dante I told you." Taren said as Dante laid her on the bed. He took her boots off and covered her with the blanket. "I know, I just thought it'd help being outside." Three days later with Ted's approval Lily was well enough to travel, but was strictly forbidden to drive the cart. "Just keep the wound wrapped well and check it to make sure infection doesn't set in. It's a deep wound and their hard to keep clean." He smiled at her, "Good luck young lady."

Lily gave Ted a quick hug, "Thank you for everything Ted."

"You're most welcome Lily."

Dante gave him a hearty handshake, "We might have lost her if it weren't for you; I'm in your debt Ted."

"Nonsense, it's my job. Just give this young lady everything she deserves and we'll call it even." He winked at Dante who chuckled. Lily wasn't quite sure what he meant by that but was too preoccupied with getting home to wonder about it much.

Even though Lily was forbidden to drive she still insisted that she sit up front. Dante wanted her to rest in the back but she wouldn't have it so she sat next to Dante as he drove and Taren took his usual place in the back. Both men noticed how distant Lily was. She stared straight ahead and rarely said anything. She didn't laugh at Taren's jokes anymore and found no comfort in Dante's arms. Lily noticed how attentive and gentle Dante was acting towards her and she wanted nothing more than to enjoy the feel of his arms around her; but she couldn't, something held her back. Lily hated sleeping now, her dreams were full of her sister and what she did. As the days passed Lily thought of her father and how she had to break his heart. Every time she thought about telling him what happened she wanted to cry. She didn't want to break his heart but knew the news of his eldest wouldn't be easy to hear, and she knew he had to hear it from her, not Dante or Father Wayman, her.

The night before they reached Fairwinds the trio was sitting around the campfire, Dante was putting a small amount of the salve on her wound. He had been putting less and less on her as the days passed and he took that as a good sign. "Lily I know you're anxious to see your father, but when we get to Fairwinds we're going to take you straight to Father Wayman so he can start working on your hand." Dante said.

She nodded, "I understand."

"When you're settled at the Temple we'll go get him for you as fast as we can." He smiled at her and she could tell it was genuine but all she could muster was a small half smile. When he was done wrapping her hand she laid down on her bedroll and curled into a ball, her left arm under her head. Dante leaned over her and laid his cheek on hers. "I know it's hard. Just one more day and you'll be home." he whispered. Lily closed her eyes and tried to be happy about seeing her papa but tears leaked though her eyelids and dripped on her bedroll.

When she was asleep, Dante sat up and tried to rub the tired from his face.

"Hey Dante, what are you going to do?" Taren whispered.

He looked up and sighed, "What do you mean?"

"I mean, are you staying with her in Fairwinds while she gets better?" Dante realized he hadn't told Taren of his plans to stay with her and felt guilty. "Yes I planned on it. I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner."

Taren shrugged his shoulders and poked at the fire, "It's all right, I kind of figured."

"Are you going to stay with us?"

The young man seemed to think for a moment, then shook his head, "I don't think I should. You two should be alone."

"You're more than welcome to Taren. I know Lily adores you."

Taren chuckled, "But you have her heart and that's more important than being adored."

"I don't want it to seem like you have to leave Taren."

He shook his head, "No I don't feel that way. It's natural for groups to change and I understand. You deserve each other."

"But we're more than just a group Taren, you're like a son to me."

Taren smiled, "And you're like a father to me, but eventually sons move on don't they?"

Dante smiled, "Well I hate to see you go but I'm glad you're not too put out."

"Not too much." He teased and laid down on his bedroll.

Dante turned and watched Lily sleep; he prayed silently as he had every night since the accident that Wayman would be able to fix her hand.

Taren Prays

The next morning Dante woke first as usual. He tried to sit up but realized there was a weight on him and looked down. It seemed Lily had snuggled up next to him in the night, her head was resting on his chest and her left arm was draped across him. Dante could feel her breathing as her chest pressed against his. He wanted to lay his hand on hers and gently wake her, but he didn't know how she'd react to waking up pressed so close to him. He decided to spare her any embarrassment and moved as slowly as he could and laid her on the ground next to him. Dante quietly got food for everyone and cleaned up the camp.

Taren woke about ten minutes later and saw Lily was still sleeping. He moved over to her and gently ran his thumb across her cheek. "Time to get up Lily, you're almost home." he whispered. Her left hand shot up and slapped his hand away. Taren was stunned for a moment but quickly started laughing.

Lily opened her eyes and saw Taren having a hearty chuckle at something, "Was that you?" she asked sleepily.

He nodded, "Yeah that was me, did you think I was a bug?"

She nodded, "I did yeah." Lily sat up and ran her left hand through her hair as Dante came walking around the cart, "You thought Taren was a bug?"

"Apparently."

Taren helped her to her feet, he was still chuckling. "She's got a good little slap there Dante you better watch it." Lily knew Taren was trying to keep the mood light, but her stomach was in knots thinking about her father.

Dante thought she looked pale and wasn't surprised when she said she wanted to ride in the back of the cart. "I'm not feeling so good." She said rubbing her stomach.

"Is it your hand? Do you need any salve?" He walked over and tried to inspect it, but she pulled back gently and shook her head. "No, I'm just really, really nervous about tell my father what happened."

Dante nodded, "All right, well just relax and try not to think about it . I'll get you home as quick as I can." She nodded as Dante helped her into the cart. Taren took his usual place in the corner behind the passenger side instead of sitting with Dante. She didn't see Dante give Taren a little nod of approval before heading out.

Lily laid in the middle of the cart and dozed for about an hour before she decided to sit up. The world started spinning and Lily started to fall back down but Taren reached out and let her fall into his arms. "Come here Lily, lay back." He pulled her to his usual spot and laid her back against his chest. She rested her head in the curve of his neck and she closed her eyes. "I feel terrible." she said. Taren could feel her heart fluttering wildly against him. "You need to relax Lily; you're working yourself up for nothing." He rubbed her arms trying to calm her down. "I have to tell my father what happened. It's going to break his heart." Her voice sounded tired and sad. Taren wrapped his arms around her and laid his cheek on hers. "Your father will be so happy that you're okay he won't dwell on the negative. He seemed like a strong man, you're not going to break him Lily."

She turned her head further into the curve of his neck, "You're so warm." She said very appreciatively. Taren chuckled, her hair was ticking his neck so he brushed some hair off her forehead but when he touched her skin he felt heat. Taren laid his wrist on her brow and quietly gasped, Lily had a fever. He picked up her right hand and unwrapped it as she gave little whimpers. "Taren what are you doing?" she complained. When he took the last bit off his jaw dropped at what he saw. There were dark red streaks coming from the wound and gray pus was oozing out. He quickly realized Lily wasn't worrying herself sick, she was sick. "Dante!" Taren shouted. The priest turned quickly, "Blessed Otto, it's infected." He picked up his water skin and blessed the water inside. "Only medicine can help now, but keep it clean with this; we still have a few more hours before we can get her to Wayman." Dante turned and got the horses running as fast as they could. Taren poured some of the water over her hand and her face wrenched in pain but she didn't cry out. "We were so careful." she said. Taren gently re-wrapped her hand, "With a would that deep I don't think it matters how careful you are, it's inevitable." He gave her hand a little kiss. "It's going to be all right Lily you'll see."

She looked up into his eyes, "I'm not going to lose my hand Taren." He saw the determination and strength in her face. No tears, no quivering lip, just raw strength. Taren knew Lily was strong, he just hadn't seen it until now. "No you're not." She scooted back and leaned on the side of the cart, keeping her hand elevated on her knee. Taren sat next to her and she took advantage, laying her head on his shoulder. He could hear her praying quietly and though he was never one for religion, he prayed along with her.

A few more hours passed and Taren could feel the fever rage on her skin. Lily just kept praying as he rinsed the pus from her hand. The steaks now stretched from the wound to her wrist, they were spreading fast. When Lily started to sweat from the fever Taren got really anxious. He was no healer, all he could do was keep her hair out of her face and give her water.

Taren thought they were about an hour away from Fairwinds when he noticed Lily's eyes seemed glazed over but she was still praying, he could see her lips moving and hear her whispered words. Lily suddenly took a big breath and sighed, "Taren I'm so tired." She looked up at him and he could see her strength being sapped by the infection. "We're almost there Lily, just hang on." He held her left hand and wished he could give her some of his strength. "How's she doing?" Dante yelled over his shoulder.

"We need to hurry." Was all Taren could say. He slid an arm under her and cradled her in his lap. She was so hot, the sweat from the fever was making her clothes stick to her skin. "You're making me too comfortable Taren." she said lazily.

He chuckled, "Sorry I'll stick a knee in your back." Lily chuckled weakly and laid her head on his chest and he watched as her eyes were closed. "Lily wake up, don't go to sleep." She fluttered her eyes open but didn't focus on anything. "Come on Lily, keep your eyes open please." He held her chin in his fingers so he could see her eyes and they turned to his face slowly. "It hurts so much Taren, I just want to sleep." She sounded so defeated it broke his heart. "Lily if you go to sleep you may not wake up." He whispered.

"I see Fairwinds!" Dante yelled. He turned and saw the state Lily was in. "Hang on Love we're almost there!" He spurred the horses on and the cart took off even faster. Lily's eyes started to close and Taren shook her gently. "No Lily stay awake, we're almost there." He watched helplessly as Lily's eyes closed and stayed that way. Taren leaned forward and whispered in her ear. "Wake up Lily please. You got to wake up for Dante and your papa okay? Hell you gotta wake up for me too. You're going to get better Lily, and when you do, you and Dante are going to marry I know it. You and that old man are going to marry and I'm going to be right there watching; and then you're going to give your papa so many beautiful grandbabies he's going to be swimming in 'em. So you got to wake up so you can have all that." He watched her face and saw her eyes flutter open and he smiled with relief. "Oh thank goodness." He hugged her close and heard her whisper, "I can't." Her breath shuddered out as tears fell from the corner of her eyes. He felt her head loll in his chest and what hope he had was dashed to pieces. Taren just continued to hold her tight. "Dante Hurry!"