Chapter 9- My Sister's Keeper
Arthurs POV*
" "No, it's my fault it's all my fault," I heard her say as she cried herself to sleep in my arms.
"I'm so fucking stupidI shouldn't have pushed my luck kissing her that way," I thought to myself. Her cries broke my heart, how could she believe it was her fault? She did nothing wrong at all. She cried for about an hour before sleep claimed her, and once it did I carried her to my bed and held her sleeping form against me. She was so beautiful, her red curly hair hang to her breast and her lips slightly parted allowing her to breathe. Her eyes were puffy and her freckled cheeks laid tear stained from crying so much. Carefully I removed her glasses and laid them on my bed side table. I couldn't sleep, I tried to but had no success. My thoughts were strictly on Ness, I loved her so much. When Ness stood today it gave me hope for her to have a full recovery, I wanted us to spend our lives together either way. Guias had told her if her legs were permanently paralyzed that she would be wheelchair ridden and never safely bare children. Ness loved children, it broke her heart when she found out. But now her regaining feeling, made me think of what a life with children would be with her. In just a few short months, I fell hard for her. I would die for her and if she were to die I would want to go with her. She was my everything and now seeing her like this these last few weeks broke me. She was vulnerable and the thought of her hurting killed me. Lost in my thoughts, I barely heard my bedroom open. I turned my head to see it was Merlin:
"What the fuck is going on! Arthur why is my baby sister in your bed??"
" Shut up, Merlin. I have a reasonable explanation for this. " I said defending myself seeing how angry he was at me.
"Well what is it then you prat?!"
"I was helping her to bed, and then things got a little heated kissing her." I stopped thanks to Merlin making a gagging noise, " Anyways all of a sudden she started crying and pulled away. She was blaming herself saying it was her fault repeatedly. She cried herself to sleep and I couldn't bring myself to leave her alone. It's my fault Merlin in so sorry, I shouldn't have. " I said weakly, angry at myself for what happened.
Merlin sighed, and walked from the door over to me and sat at the end of the bed looking at his sister. Wiping a way a few tears with his hand He looked to me:
"Arthur it isn't your fault.. Ness three years back was.. God it's hard to say it." He said to me choking up on the verge of crying.
" What Merlin, Ness was what? " I asked my concern growing even more
"Arthur, Ness was raped by a bandit three years ago." Merlin said tears forming in his eyes " he abused her and raped her. I blame myself everyday for what happened to her. When I found her she was unconscious, if I hadn't of walked off after a fight with her, she never would have been raped."
Tears fell hard from my eyes as I looked down to the love of my life in my arms. I couldn't help but feel sick at the thought of her being raped. No wonder she backed away from me, if only I had known. How could someone hurt her in that way and steal her virtue from her at such a young age.
"Ness still has nightmares of the attack Arthur, she will sometimes wake up screaming at night and have me crawl into bed with her to calm her down. " Merlin continued.
"It isn't your fault Merlin," I said to him wiping my tears and sniffling, " why did she never tell me? I wouldn't have let tonight go as far as it did if I had known. "
"Thats the thing Arthur she has never once spoken of it since it happened. Ness tries to act like it never happened, and tonight she wanted you to kiss her, she wants to be with you in that way Arthur. She just was frightened, she loves you more than anything Arthur. "
"How could someone hurt this beautiful woman? She is the bravest and strongest I have ever met Merlin, and I love her with all my heart. I promise I will never let anyone hurt her again Merlin, I would lay down my life for Ness." I told him seriously and held my love tighter in my arms.
" I know Arthur, I know. I'm glad it is you she loves even if you are a royal prat, "Merlin said smiling weakly to me, " We should get her to bed Arthur, she needs sleep and so do you. "
"Please Merlin, let me hold her. I need to," I pleaded with him. A moment passed before he finally sighed and looked back to me:
" As long as you promise to fetch me if something happens, I worry about her and her safety is most important to me. "
" I will Merlin, you have my word. "
" Tomorrow, when she wakes I want us to take her to Guias, to see about her legs improvement please. " Merlin said and I nodded back to him.
He then stood and bid me goodnight walking to his and Ness's room. I turned back to Ness laying her down in my arms next to me in my bed, carefully I pulled the covers over us both and held her sleeping form tight. I kissed her temple, brushing away a small tendrils of curls from her face. I vowed to always love her and one day I intended to marry her..
Ness's POV*
~ Nightmare~
"You little Bitch, you will pay for that," the bandit snarled.
"No!! No please don't hurt me!! No!! Stop please!! Nooo!!!"
"Ness! Love!!Nessa!! Wake up!!, " Arthur said shaking me awake I opened my eyes to the sun shining bright in the room, the bed I lay in was softer than mine, and I was wrapped in the. Warmth of Arthur. Turning my head I saw him looking to me, a look of worry spread over his face.
" Ness are you ok? " he asked me
I shook my head no and began to cry, his arms wrapped around me tighter and I buried my face in his chest.
"Shh. It's ok , you're ok, it's just a dream." He said his face buried in my hair.
Moments past before I could calm down enough to stop crying and speak, I had to explain to Arthur everything, including my magic. I scooted myself up carefully in his bed and looked to him dreading what would come next after today.
"It wasn't just a dream Arthur, it was a memory. Three years ago I was walking home to Merlin after we had an argument, on my way a man attacked me, I got away but I fell tripping over a tree root. My ankle broke in the fall and the man caught up to me, he hit me bruising my body all over. He ra-raped me Arthur. The dream was a memory I wish had never happened. "
" Oh baby, I know, I'm so sorry, " he said grabbing me up in his arms again kissing me, " you're brother told me everything last night after what I did. I'm so sorry for pushing you, I had no right to. "
"Arthur no, I wanted it. I wanted more with you. I should have told you everything before and I am so sorry that I have not," I said holding his cheek and kissing him gently, " there's something else I have been keeping from you, and I pray you don't hate me, " I continued before starting to tear up again.
"Darling I could never hate you, what is it?"
"Please don't hate me, I was born this way and I wish I wasnt," I said to him. I looked to the empty fireplace and held up my hand. My eyes flashed gold and the fire place roared a brand new flame with horses dancing in a circle . "I'm so sorry Arthur," I started weeping and struggled to to say. His eyes grew wide when he saw the horses and then he started to laugh.
"Nessa I already knew, look over at the vase by the door," Arthur said and pointed toward the door. There lay a broken white floral vase, " I always knew there was something special about you, and unlike my father I accept those with magic. I knew about Merlin two weeks after you moved here, and I found out about you right after you were poisoned. Who else would send that little ball of light to help me in that cave. I love you Ness and no matter what I always will. "
"You're not angry with me?"
" No, how could I ever be if anything im sad you didn't tell me sooner, but knowing what could happen if my father knew, I understand. " he replied back smiling at me, " We will figure this out Ness, I promise. For now we need to get you to Guias, I promised Merlin we would let Guias look at your legs. "
" Arthur, I love you, " I said to him as he picked me up and carried me to my wheelchair so I could change.
"And I you Ness," he said closing the door behind him.
Once the door shut completly, I changed into my burgundy dress with a white bodice top and my flats. I pinned my hair into a side ponytail, and then wheeled back to the door Opening it to find Arthur standing and waiting for me along with my brother.
"Good morning brother," I said wheeling to him and hugging him.
" Morning, are you ready to see our uncle? " he asked hugging me back gently.
"Why must I see him today?" I questioned, " he's going to tell me the same as always Merlin . "
"Ness sweetheart, please. Maybe there is something we can do to help you now since you have feeling back in one leg," Arthur pleaded and Merlin gave me baby doll eyes to bribe me.
"Fine, but I don't like being proded by needles and I don't want to hear anything about possibly never baring children again either," I warned them both, " it already breaks my heart enough to knowable alone hear it repeatedly . "
They both nodded and this time my brother took charge of pushing me, Arthur walked along side me and held my hand. The trip to Guias's took about ten minutes from our rooms, the stairs as usual were a nuisance and took the both of them to lift my chair up the winding staicase to my uncle's chambers. Once arriving my brother knocked on the door and my Uncle opened it smiling and hugging us all.
"Nessa my dear, your brother told me about your progress and I am quite pleased lot hear it." Guias said to me, " now Arthur or Merlin whichever could one of you help lift her to the bed. "
" I will, " Arthur said anxiously and picked me up carrying me to the bed. As he set me down He pecked my lips and took a seat along side my brother. My uncle then came over and started to examine my legs.
"My dear I'm not going to use needles toda-" he started
"Oh thank God, I felt like a bloody pin cushion. I'm sorry Guias,"
He laughed, " Its ok, however I am going to test your reflexs an feel of your legs. As I touch in certain areas I want you to say yes or no. First I want to start by seeing you stand, " he said.
Arthur stood up and held his arm out for me, I took it thanking him and carefully lifted my right leg off the bed and swing around my left leg. Slowly I stood gripping his arm, only to let go once I felt steady enough to stand alone on my left. The three men smiled to me as I looked up to them, I weakly smiled back to them.
" Wonderful! Wonderful! This is great progress, now you may sit back down. Please however lift you dress to your hips. Arthur. Merlin. Could you please allow Ness some privacy? " my Uncle asked them both. Arthur kissed my head and followed my brother to our old bedroom closing the door behind them.
"Now Nessa, this instrument checks your reflexes," he said holding what looked like a miniature hammer, " I'm going to gently tap your knees to check for any response in your legs. "
" Ok"
He gently tapped my left and knee, and my leg jerked forward in response. He then tapped my right but sadly no response was given. He sighed and set down the instrument and then took my right leg in his hand.
" I am going to bend your leg and then extend it out fully. If you feel any pressure please let me know, " my Uncle said to me and then slowly bent my leg until it was almost to my chest and then extend it fully. Each time he bent it I felt pressure on my hips and it was unpleasant. He could see me wince each time and he started to smile once he did.
"Nessa so you feel anything in your right hip? Any pressure what so ever?" He asked me
" Yes I do, is that good news uncle? "
"My dear, before you had no reaction to any pain what so ever in your hips either one. Now your left leg is healing and your able to feel your right hip. So yes my dear it is good news, I have faith you will make a full recovery but it will take time. It may take a month or a year even but Nessa it is not permanent paralysis."
Tears flooded my eyes and I smiled greatly at my uncle pulling him into a big hug. The old man giggled at me and smiled before hugging me back.
"Does this mean I can bare children Guias?" I asked him seriously and hopeful
" My dear it is still to soon to say for sure, but I believe the possibility of it is quite likely, " he said smiling to me, " now how do you feel about trying to get out of that wheel chair for good? "
" I would love too uncle, but how? " I asked. He held up a finger and went into the cupboard pulling out two braces and forearm crutches. He then walked back and held them up to me.
"This is how my dear, " he smiled and continued, " They will be uncomfortable at first and I don't want you to sleep in them but with practice I believe these will help to build the strength back in your legs. "
He helped me lift my legs into the bed and showed me how to properly fasten the braces to my feet and legs. He then helped me to stand and adjusted the crutches around my arms and left me to stand on my own. "Walk to me Nessa, " he said and walked over to the chambers door.
Carefully leaning onto the crutches I slowly pulled my left leg forward and then drug my right behind it. I then moved the crutches back in front of me and took another step. It was slow going but eventually I made it to him. I smiled wide when I met the door and him, I was so happy I could once again walk, even though I had to have help it was worth it to be out of that blasted chair.
"Well done Nessa!!," He cheered and hugged me tight, " I want you to be very careful and still take the wheel chair back with you. Your body is still weak but overtime you build strength again. Now how about we try some stairs? I know two men who will be over the moon to see you walk. "
I nodded and slowly walked to the steps taking them one at a time, once I reached the door I knocked and opened it slowly. I walked in and saw both men stare at me in shock. Before long I had two pairs of arms wrapped around me suffocating me. Arthur began to cry tears of happiness and Merlin was already balling like a blabbering baby.
" I guess you won't have to lift me up the stairs anymore, " I said to them both and started laughing. Arthur kissed me deeply and hugged me again happiness overtaking him.
"My dear, I am so happy and proud for you, I love you so much." Arthur said to me
" How is it your walking Ness? Did he give you braces?"Merlin asked and I slightly lifted my dress enough for them to see the braces.
" Ill have to get used to dresses I guess, but the paralysis is not permanent. It may take up to a year but I am slowly regaining feeling in both legs again, " I smiled big to them
" I am so happy for you, we must show father Ness. He will be so pleased with you, " Arthur said to me excitingly. I nodded and turned to the door once more the boys in tow, I maneuvered down the steps one by one and finally reached the bottom. My uncle was smiling to me and told me he wanted me to come back for therapy every week and salve my legs to keep them from devolping rashes because of the braces. Once he finished instructing me, Arthur, Merlin and me took our leave and headed to fines Uther.
Arthur 's POV*
I couldn't believe the progress she was making, I was so happy for her. Seeing her smile with happiness melted my heart with even more love for her. The three of us left Guias's slowly we made our way to the court room where I knees my father was to be found. I kept one hand one the small of her back at all times and one hand on her arm ready to support her if she fell. Merlin walked next to us wheeling her wheelchair in case she needed to sit or grew tired. Her body was still very weak but she was doing great. The trip took us about thirty minutes allowing her to stop and rest for a few along the way. When we reached the court room I opened the door and walked in having Ness to stay with Merlin.
"Father!," I yelled as I walked in the court room. He turned to look to me along with the court members:
"Arthur what is the meaning of this?" He said standing and growing angry
" I have a surprise for you father, I promise it is worth the interruption, " I said and then turned to the door, "Ness! Merlin! Come in!"
My father and I stared at the door in anticipation, I could feel my father's patience growing thin. Then I heard her the crutches getting closer, the door opened and Merlin entered followed by Ness on her crutches and braces walking slowly in her burgundy dress. My father ran started smiling and ran to her hugging her.
" This is wonderful Nessa, I can't believe it. How? " he asked her excitingly.
" My nerves are repairing themselves in my right leg slowly, it could take up to a year but the paralysis is not permanent. My uncle gave me braces on my legs to help me walk and crutches to support me, " she said smiling wide and hugging him back.
My father had always liked Ness and Merlin, but never did I think he would hug her like he did in front of the court. It pleased me he liked her so much, Ness was brilliant. I had lost myself in my thoughts until I heard my father yell making an announcement:
"I do apologize for the interruption court but I have an announcement. This woman right here," he said pointing at Ness, " has been wheelchair bound for a month now, I'm sure you remember the night she was poisoned, anyways she has just received word she will make a full recovery and I would just like everyone to give her a round of applause for her news. She may not be royal but to our family her brother and her are very much so. With that court is over for today thank you! "My father announced and Ness blushed in embarrassment.
"Thank you Uther, you shouldn't have," Ness thanked him
"Nonsense I mean it, to us your brother and you are family, you stole the heart of my son Nessa and to me you are already like a daughter in law." He said smiling
" I don't meant to interrupt your highness, but Arthur is due at the training grounds soon. " Merlin spoke aloud to my father.
" Very well then, thank you three for the surprise it has in fact brightened my day greatly, " my father said and then took his leave for the day.
" Ness dear, would you like to come to the training grounds today?, " I asked hoping she would say yes.
"I would love to Arthur, maybe I can see my brother finally knock you on your arse," she said laughing . God is she beautiful when she laughs, my Ness was coming back to me finally.
"I doubt he could," I retorted, " I could take him apart in one blow. "
" I could take you apart in less you clotpole, " he yelled back and then ran.
"Ness may I?" I asked she shook her head yes and I picked her up over my shoulder and took off running after him to the training grounds. Things were finally getting better and I couldn't wait to see what the future held.
~Later that Day~
Merlin's POV*
My body ached in places I didn't know I had before as I walked with Arthur back to our chambers. I carried Ness's crutches in my arms as Arthur carried her sleeping form, she had been exhausted after all the walking she had done today. I was so happy for her, she was finally hopeful about her future and happy. Arthur told me about this morning with her and I felt bad for telling him about her rape. I felt it wasn't my place to tell him but seeing how much he loves her I had to. She finally talked about it, and I'm glad she finally was opening up to someone. Ness had always been very private and selfless, she never made anything just about her. She was kind and giving and she deserved to finally fall in love. I couldn't help but to think about what happened with Kilgarrah. I knew he was angry with me, later I would have to explain everything to Ness. After telling me to get rid of the sword, I mounted a horse and threw Excalibur in the bottom of a lake where no man would find it not far from the castle. Kilgarrah told me that in the hands of Uther the sword would cause chaos and destruction, and for that reason it had to be hidden until the time came and we were in need again. Ness would not be pleased to hear how angry the Dragon was but I would have to tell her.
The walk to our rooms was quick and once arriving at the main door, I opened it up allowing Arthur to enter first and then shut the door behind me. Sighing I opened the door to mine and Ness's room and then laid down the armor I had on and crutches for Ness. Turning I was confused to find Ness's bed empty I expected Arthur to lay her down already. I changed quickly and peeked out our bedroom door, that's when I saw Arthur laying Ness on his bed. I watched as he removed her flats and straightened her legs out in front of her. He then began to pull her dress up and I was about to get pissed, until I see him stop at the top of the braces and carefully untie them. He placed them next to his bed and then grabbed the salve from his shirt that Guias had given her to rub every night on her legs. Gently he rubbed the salve over her legs cautiously and then once satisfied lifted her ever so slightly and pulled the blankets from under her. He covered her up and then kissed her lips lightly before standing up and pushing over her wheelchair to her side of the bed locking it's wheels. I smiled at Arthur, if it were anyone else caring for my sister like this I would kill them, but with Arthur I knew how much he loved her. I watched as he went behind the screen and changed into his night pants before then going back over to the bed and grabbing a pillow and blanket from the end. He proceeded to lay above the duvet covering her and cover up with his own blanket on the other side of the bed. Arthur was a complete gentleman to her and it warmed my heart. My sister was always a baby to me and I always had to protect her. But now it seemed that no longer was I the only my sister's keeper.I closed the door softly and went to bed a smile on my face and for the first time in a while happy for things to be normal.