7
Face

The sun had long since fallen and risen, taking its place high in the sky as it reached midday. By the shade of a large oak tree sat Martin who had black shades under his eyes, making the normal blue seem a little greyer. On his lap was Iveona's head, her eyes closed peacefully as her chest moved with slow breaths.

As he went to dig out the arrow head out of her shoulder earlier that day using a flaming hand, she had given an ungodly muffled scream before she had passed out. Even now, Martin still winced at the noise she'd made even though her teeth had been clamped down on a piece of leather. It was only because she had been in so much pain and it made him upset that she hadn't chosen to admit it beforehand. By now Martin had come to the conclusion that Iveona Nethys was the most stubborn womer in all of Nirn. He still did not understand why she didn't tell him but if she hadn't collapsed in the middle of the road, the infection could have spread and she could have died.

At that thought, Martin felt a sharp pang in his chest, not quite enjoying the thought of her being in such a way. At some point, he didn't exactly know when, Martin had come to realise that she was more to him now than being a stranger. He didn't know what 'more' was but he had begun to see her as a companion, maybe even border lining a friend, even if she had given him nothing but silence since the incident a few days prior. His head moved down to stare the Iveona as she slept, no stress lines or frown in sight, and that was only from her closed eyes.

Once he had finished removing the arrowhead, he had instantly covered her face again, knowing that was what she would have wished. At first, he didn't understand why her eyes grew wide in fear when he had suggested taking off her mask. It was to keep her from biting her own tongue off but a small, sick part of him really wanted to see her full face. Granted, he wanted to do it in more comfortable circumstances and when trust had fully developed between them. But desperate times called for desperate measures.

When he had fully seen her face, he could understand the fear within her eyes. Her face was horribly scarred; there were a thousand and one cuts that marred her face. It was like her second skin, the normal grey not in sight as white marks overcame it. Her lips were almost non-existent, hidden underneath all the scars. He could see them trailing down her neck, past her clothing as well. Martin felt a fire brewing in his stomach as he thought about who could do such a thing; this was no simple bear attack. All the cuts were done precisely, with careful method. It made his sick that someone had willingly done this to her, how they could do it to anyone at all. He wondered if this was what made her the cold and stoic womer she was today.

In way, it was sad that someone allowed that to be closed off from the world emotionally. Of course, Martin was only making assumptions on what he saw. It wasn't at all reliable being that he didn't know anything about her past expect that she was sent by the former Emperor himself to come and find him.

Martin raked his hand through her hair, the silky strands like a stream of water between his fingers. He was doing the act subconsciously, his eyes staring into the endless distance. In fact, he was so out of focus that he didn't even notice her eyes flutter open. It wasn't until something wrapped around his wrists did he notice. The grip wasn't strong but enough to halt his ministrations.

Instantly heat flared across his chest, travelled up his neck but he still stared in the distance, much too mortified to look at her.

"Martin," Her voice was rough and weak, unlike her normal deep and strong one.

It was enough to make him bow his head, catching her bleary eyes. They were glazed over with sleep, the normal cold surrounding them having melted off. Her hand was still wrapped around his wrist and the touch spread more wildfire through him.

"Yes?" His words came out strained, which he tried to cover up by coughing. He prayed to Akatosh and the Nine Divines that she wouldn't ask about what he was doing. He didn't even know what he was doing.

"What happened?" Martin let out a breath glad she didn't ask the question he didn't want her to. He shook himself out of his mortification, trying to remain serious.

"As I started to take the arrowhead out of your shoulder, you, well," He paused at the narrowing of her eyes as she started up at him and Martin winced as he spoke.

"Fainted,"

Rather than expecting anger, he felt her body freeze up instead. Her eyes blew wide in panic and the hand holding Martin's wrist let go. Instead, it flew to her face, covered fingers pressing against the cloth that covered everything but her face. As instant as the action before, her body sagged and he heard a long sigh of relief that befell her.

Iveona was more awake now and her eyes turned to his again, staring at him intently. He found that there was no ice within them; instead they seemed to be warm, matching the crimson. Martin wasn't sure what to think; only ever receiving nothing but frigidity from her. He was unsure what had made her change like that; they had only known one another for two weeks now and he felt that it wasn't long enough to warrant this behaviour. He wasn't complaining of course, it was just rather odd to see her in such a way.

As her eyes searched his, he knew that she was trying to say something to him but he wasn't quite what. Eventually, she turned her eyes away, leaving Martin more confused than ever.

Iveona started to move, lifting her head from his lap before he could even blink. The act was so quick he barely had time to shoot her hands out to steady her and he was surprised a woman who had infection running through her blood could move that fast.

His hands came to rest on her shoulders, the muscles tensing at his touch once again. The Priest felt no irritation seep into his emotions, coming to understand that she would not simply uncoil at his touch. He would not try and change that but right now; he wanted to help her to be stable. Her elbows rested on the ground now her upper body angled and facing away from him. Martin shifted on the ground, bringing his knees to tuck underneath him; the limbs aching from where they had been stretched out. His hands moved away by an inch so that they were only hovering above her.

"Do you want me to..." He trailed off, asking for her permission to help her, not wanting to force her into something she did not want.

"No, you've done enough," The words were not spoken in the typical spice that had become associated with them.

Instead, they were gentler, far softer than he had ever heard her speak before. In a way, it felt like she was thanking him in her own way for he had spent enough time with her to know that she preferred actions over words. Martin swallowed, eyes fixed on the back of her head. He mulled over her words, trying to decide what to do.

On one hand he could leave her to it as she seemed far happier if he left her alone. But then again, he wasn't the type of person to leave an injured person to sort themselves out; it just wasn't in his nature. If this situation happened when they first met, then perhaps it may have been different but they were two weeks into knowing each other and he wanted to help her. Not because she wanted or needed him to but because he wanted to help her.

As a friend.

"Just let me help you, Iveona," He pleaded, his exhaustion seeping into his voice.

He had stayed awake throughout the night through to morning to ensure that she didn't die from her wounds. Martin used what little magicka he had left to use a frost spell and a healing spell to keep a fever from rising and it had drained a lot out of him. Not that he minded of course, he would gladly do it again.

She mumbled something underneath her breath before she craned her head to the side, blood eyes staring at him sharply. There was a glint of ire in them but not strong enough to make him falter, full well knowing what she was doing.

"You're the most annoying Man I've met, Princess, so persistent," She informed him and despite her tone, he let out a breathy chuckle at the nickname and her words. Iveona's gaze seemed to harden then and he realised that she thought he was mocking her.

"And you, my dear, are the most stubborn Mer I've ever met," The term of endearment slipped from his tongue before he could stop himself and he tires his best to ignore the heat rushing up his neck.

Though his words seemed to have some effect because the frostiness in her eyes dimmed a little and they turned away. There was a mildly awkward silence where they both looked away from each other with Martin finding a Tiger Lily in the distance particularly interesting.

"Fine," Came the reluctant word from Iveona and Martin snapped his gaze to her.

"Pardon?"

"You can... help me," Her tone was strained and he softened, understanding that this was difficult for her to do.

So Martin decided not to tease her. Instead, he stood up and walked around so he was in front of her. He crouched down, his knees clicking as he did. Iveona watched him her eyes widening when he held out a hand towards her. His lips quirked up in a small smile, wanting to reassure her that he wasn't going to harm her. She stared at him warily, eyes flickering down to his hand and back down to his face again.

Slowly, she lifted her hand to reach towards his. When she was only millimetres away, she pulled her hand back in hesitation. Martin didn't push her but just kept his hand where it was hovering. After a few more seconds, he felt a cold pressure on his hand. His smile grew as her fingers curled around his and he felt his heart move that bit faster.

A/N; They're so cute I love themmmm, I'm looking forward to show you guys what's to come, esp at chapter 12

And I just wanna say that I'm a little disheartened with having over 450 views and a few followers and favs and to only have two reviews! Not trying to force anything but it would be much appreciated to get some reviews!