She came to lying on her side. She felt bruised and battered, her arms and legs heavy as if she had been running and fighting. She could move but only very slowly. Steeling herself, she raised her head, ignoring the pounding stabbing pain. The room looked familiar to her although she couldn't remember where she had been before, what she had been doing before falling asleep. The light crystals glowed softly by the doorway and she could see a stem of her favourite flower lying on the table next to a tray with a bowl and mug on it. She let her gaze wander round, the soft fabrics that draped from the ceiling glittering in pastel shades and reflecting some light onto the items she could see. A chair next to the desk. A small table next to the bed with a jug of water on it. A trunk in the corner that she somehow knew held all the clothes she owned. Her eyes rested on a small object on the table. It was very familiar to her and she felt attracted to it, like she had to hold it to her.
Taking a deep breath, she swung her legs out from under the sheets, stopping just to catch her breath again. She let her head drop, squeezing her eyes shut to chase away the pain. It was sheer stubbornness that made her try to stand up and sheer folly to have tried. She flopped back onto the bed with a pained grunt and lay there, her face screwed up in annoyance with her body and disappointment that she couldn't even stand. She clenched her fists, shaking them slightly as she gathered her strength again to sit up. Once upright, she gauged the distance between her and the table then between her and the end of the bed. She figured that if she could shimmy down the bed, she could use the foot board as a crutch to then lean over and grab the object she was after. With that plan in mind, she began to move.
It was just as she reached for the object, her legs wobbling, that a voice came from the doorway.
"Well, now I know you're up."
She startled, falling backwards to land in a heap on the bed. The voice chuckled.
"Although perhaps not quite as graceful as normal."
The object she had been seeking appeared in front of her eyes. She reached out and gently took it from the callused hand that held it so carefully.
"Thank you."
Her voice sounded…tired. Not quite the way she thought it should. But it was pushed from her mind as strong hands helped her to sit up and she got a good look at her helper. He was tall, lean rather than thin, with a long face and serious expression. He was frowning at her as he pulled a blanket from the bed and draped it over her shoulders.
"You really should be resting. We got you out pretty quickly but the rock slide did a lot of damage. You'll need at least two more healing sessions."
She nodded, staring at the small crystal flower in her hands. She knew it had been hand-carved just for her and knew that the man who was looking at her with such devotion had been the one to carve it. He saw the way she was stroking the petals and smiled.
"You like it?"
"It's beautiful. Thank you."
He nodded his head, his cropped hair the colour of wave-washed sand, his eyes centred on her face. She smiled and immediately he beamed with joy at the sight. It made her feel loved. It made her feel safe.
"I made it because…" He paused and she reached up to him, offering her hand. With a small sigh he took it and lowered himself to sit beside her, careful not to jostle her. She smiled at him in encouragement. He continued, "Because I wanted to make a talisman that would bring you back to me."
She felt tears pricking at her eyes. He gently brushed her cheek with his palm.
"Do you regret staying with me?"
"Never." She rested her head on his shoulder. "Where else would we have gone? Where else would we be so happy?"
He sighed in relief and gingerly took her in his arms. His eyes blazed, his voice dropped and he said, "We love you both very deeply. Neither of us would have been able to continue without you."
She looked up at him, at both of them, and she felt movement within that begged to be allowed to speak. She dimly heard her voice, but deeper, as her other half spoke.
"Lantash, we could not be without you."
"Jolinar…" Then the host spoke, "Samantha…"
And Samantha looked into those beloved eyes and whispered, "Martouf."
Author's Note: I couldn't help myself!!! They are so cute!
