This story is getting longer than expected. I hope that's good news to you all lol.
Thank you Azeran and Intergalaticsupertwink for all the hard beta work that you do!
The guests in the castle were in utter hysterics. They were so beside themselves with fear that no one minded their seven-foot-tall beast-king barking out orders and pushing them back toward the ballroom. One woman even tried handing him her child! Anyone not fit to fight, if the need arose, were led to the great hall and throne room. Those who were able-bodied and willing took up arms, taking their place with the soldiers.
In the madness and chaos, Searlus was our rock. He was calm and steadfast. Without losing urgency, he was kind and patient with anyone who tried clamouring for his protection. Throughout all of it, not once did he release my hand that was clamped tightly in his massive fist. This man I had no memory of was quickly beguiling me. In only an hour, he had turned my world upside down, and I knew it would never be righted again. At that moment, gazing up at him as the room blurred by in a sea of people and deafening clamour, my soul became more restless than ever.
"This is madness," Searlus grumbled with frustration. Then he pulled me toward the stairs and climbed a mere three steps to be seen by all. "SILENCE!" The King literally roared, my ears barely tolerated it. When the room was shocked into silence, he took a large breath. "Please," he continued with a low but still loud and commanding voice, "panic will only incite more fear and danger. As I speak to you, the elderly, incapacitated, and those with children are being ferried across the lake to safety. My soldiers are making quick work of it. Then they will move on to everyone else."
"What is happening?!" Someone cried.
"Why are we being attacked?!"
Searlus held up a hand. "Prince Armand has been whispering in the ear of the Southern King for years to wage war with us. Although King Rupert denies it and has not declared war, we believe it is his royal treasury that Armand has been sinking his greedy hands into to stage a coup. He's been pirating our ships from the start."
"But why?! He's your cousin!"
Searlus nodded gravely. "He believes you will all accept him as your new King, now more than ever, because you now know the truth of what I am."
There were whispers and murmurs, but Searlus continued over them all, and they grew quiet again.
"All my life, I've been told to believe people like him. That my citizens would turn on me despite everything I have done to raise this kingdom above all others. That you would hate me despite making sure there is true justice and peace amongst us, despite all the changes in the law so that no one would ever go hungry or have access to healers and medicine within our borders. All because an attempt to save my life as an infant had cursed my body. So, tell me now. Is the would-be usurper, right?"
More murmuring and only a few lonely shouts of "No!"
"I do not need your love," Searlus said with conviction, "I've been given more love than I ever thought was possible for someone like me." He looked down at me and smiled sadly. "Even if I do not have it any longer," he said more quietly. Then he turned back to his people. "What I need is your trust. What I need is your loyalty. I broke down the gates to give you my trust. And now, I face an enemy to renew my dedication to you all as your King. If you cast it aside now, then I will step down this instant and leave you in Armand's hands."
"NO!" More people shouted.
Searlus stood straighter, unsheathed his sword, and pointed to the sky. "Can I count on you as you have all counted on me?"
"YES!" The people cried in droves. "Hail King Searlus!" Hail the Beast King!" The chants rang out. The guards egged them all on, crashing their swords to their shields and giving out a war cry.
Searlus's sword sparked to life. Currents of lighting hugged his weapon and crackled. The room gasped in awe. "I need all able-bodied fighters at the back of the line. My hope is that you will not need to fight, but Armand has come prepared with alchemists and enchanted machines. I promise you they will meet their match."
The King let out a short roar, and the most fantastic thing I've ever seen began to take place. The furniture came to life and began to march toward the doors of the castle. People jumped out of the way and marvelled at the spectacle that took place. The furniture barricaded the doors, and then the sound of metal on stone filled the air. A small army of hollow knights with swords and shields marched up and lined themselves protectively in front of the citizens. The wonders did not cease there. Spider-like machines, like the one that carried father and me to the castle, crawled their way forth and up the walls. Once they perched, they sent spindles of sparking webs down.
It was only then that the King's soldiers readied themselves before their charges as well and brandished guns of the likes I've never seen.
"Holy shit," I murmured in wonder.
I felt Searlus squeeze my hand. "As I assured you before. Precautions have been taken."
"So I see!"
Lumiere and a group of servants made their way to us. "Sire, your armour awaits."
"Perfect timing," Searlus muttered, then pulled me into the parlour.
Once we were inside, Lumiere closed the doors, and Searlus let go of my hand as he staggered, nearly losing his balance completely.
"Searlus!" I cried with concern. "What is the matter?"
"Nothing," he rasped as he stumbled and collapsed in a large winged chair. He closed his eyes, held his head in his hands, and panted.
I ran to his side, full of worry. "Nothing? Clearly not nothing!"
"Please, don't shout," he begged with a wince. "It will pass. I'm just not used to so much noise... and people."
Of course not, I thought with a frown. He'd lived most of his life as a hermit, and now, on top of the stress of an uprising, his castle was filled to the brim with panicking strangers. A king with much on his shoulders indeed.
"Is there anything I can do to help?" I asked softly and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder.
He stiffened under my touch and raised his gaze to mine, brow furrowed in what looked like pain. "Nothing I have any right to ask of you, my heart."
Lord how he says the most perfect things! I just wanted to throw myself at his feet and tell him to ask away. At that moment I probably would have agreed to anything! Instead, I stared at him, speechless.
Searlus quirked a curious brow. "What is it? You're looking at me strangely," he chuckled nervously.
I felt a blush creep up my neck to the tips of my ears. "Nothing. It's just... you're the most singular person I've ever met." I echoed his words to me with as much dedication and love I could muster.
He gasped and reached out to touch my face when the doors flew open, and Anne came storming in with my father in tow. "How dare you?!" she shrieked as she stormed to the King and gave his hand in midair a hard whack.
The King flinched away from her in complete shock.
"How could you?!" she yelled again, angry tears welling up in her eyes.
I looked to my father for answers, but he quickly shook his head in warning.
"Wh-what? What have I done?" Searlus nearly squeaked with dread.
Anne put her hands on her hips and fumed. "You shut me out! You shut everyone out! I am your physician! I swore an oath to your mother to see to your health and keep you alive at all costs! And what do you do? You deny me my purpose!"
"Anne," Searlus raised his hands in surrender, but she smacked them down again. All the King could do was drop his jaw and blink at her while she continued her tirade.
"Look at you!" She shrieked. "You're skin and bones!"
Skin and bones?! I thought bemused, why the brute is nothing but muscle! Did she mean he was even larger than this?! It boggled my mind. I couldn't even picture him any bigger and stronger than how he appeared before me!
"You look like you haven't slept in weeks!" At this point, Searlus had cringed into his seat. "And what's more?!" Anne started to cry through her words. "You practically invite your corrupt rat of cousin to come and murder you!"
Searlus opened his mouth, but she raised her hand to silence him. He clamped his mouth shut.
"All of that is bad enough, but what hurts the most, is that in your moment of need, you turned me away. Do you think I was not affected by Belle's kidnapping? By her loss of memory of me?! And you... I've looked after you since you were a babe. I thought I was more than just your healer. Obviously, I was wrong!" A large sob burst out of her and then she threw herself at him, wrapped her arms around his neck and wept.
The King could not have looked more startled if he tried. "Anne," he said hoarsely, full of emotion. "I didn't know you... that you–"
"Loved you like family?!" she bawled. "Of course I do, you dense idiot!" She continued to wail until Searlus finally brought up his hands and patted her on the back in an attempt to console her.
Searlus looked to me in what seemed like a cry for help. I used my arms to hug the air and encourage him to give her a proper embrace. Then I mouthed the words "apologise".
"I-I-I I am so sorry, eh, Anne." He sighed deeply and returned her embrace at last. He looked defeated. "My self-loathing seems to ruin all of my..." he looked at me then back to the weeping woman, "relationships."
Lumiere cleared his throat. "Sire, I lament to inform you that we are still under attack."
"Erm, yes," Searlus utter and let Anne go with a guilty face.
Anne peeled herself off of her charge and sniffed. She pulled out a vial and handed it to Searlus. "I made this special in case I found you dying in this wretched, lonely place. It will boost your energy and fortify your nerves. I'm sure all this ruckus has taken a toll on you."
Searlus looked close to tears. "Thank you, Anne," he whispered.
A small group of servants entered carrying the King's armour. Searlus drank half of Anne's tonic then closed it and pocketed the rest.
"Excuse me," he uttered quietly as he met the servants who had set up a folding screen for him to change.
My father took my hands. "How goes it?" he whispered. He nodded discreetly toward the corner where Searlus was changing.
I looked over my shoulder and caught quite the sight. The screen was too short for him, and I saw his muscular back flexing right before he donned his arming doublet. I cocked a brow and looked back at my father.
"Um. Good. Mhm." I nodded dumbly and then frowned. "What the fuck am I going to do?" I whispered back in a panic.
Papa dragged me further away from Searlus and groused right into my ear. "You're going to kick Gerard's arse back to where he was sleazing about before he helped Armand ruin your godsdamned fairytale romance, that's what!" He sent a quick glance to see if anyone was listening. "Do you remember anything yet?"
I shook my head and furrowed my brow. "What makes you think Gerard is helping Armand?"
My father shut his eyes hard and then gave me a stern glare. "The cad disappeared for two years without a word, Belle. Then suddenly he shows up just weeks before you're to get engaged to the King. While at the same time, Armand turns up, kidnaps you, and drops you out on the street at Gerard's feet! Do you really believe his horseshit about being some pirate's slave or prisoner or whatever the hell his story is?"
Searlus cleared his throat, and we spun around to see His Majesty in his gold and black leather armour. "Maurice, you should get to the ferries with Anne. Belle," he came closer to me and frowned, "you should go with them."
I looked between my father and Searlus, not knowing what to do. "What about–
"It's not a request. I order you to evacuate with your family," Searlus commanded. "I..." he held out his hand to me, and I took it. He smiled down at our hands and thumbed my knuckles gently. "I hope you will give my offer some thought and that I will see you again soon." He only hesitated a second before he bent down and kissed my hand. Then he let me go and turned away from me swiftly. "Lumiere, please see them safely to the boats. The rest of us, to the front."
The King and his soldiers marched out of the room while my heart tore itself in two. I didn't want to leave him. I looked at my father, who gave me a sad smile. "You can fight, but you're no soldier, Belle. This isn't some drunken brawl. He's a King. He's been prepared for this sort of thing his whole life. I'm sure he'll be fine."
I nodded though I didn't feel convinced.
Lumiere led us out of the castle. As Searlus had said, the soldiers had made quick work of taking the citizens to safety. There was only roughly sixty people left waiting on the lake's dock. We waited anxiously while the sounds of battle grew louder and nearer. A bright green light shot upward from the castle to the night sky and dissipated with a resounding blast.
"What's happened?!" I cried.
Lumiere stared at the castle with worry. "I believe the magical barrier has been breached." It must have been that because we could now hear the screams of men, gunshots and clashing of weapons. He turned to us. "Can you all swim?"
"Of course we can!" My father said indignantly. "But even I know I'm too fucking old to swim across nearly a knot of a lake that can freeze the balls off a brass monkey!"
Anne hiked up her skirts. "I say we go back in there and beat the pulp out of those ingrates!"
"HOY!"
We all turned toward the hailer shouting from the lake. We were met with the sight of a boat that was quickly approaching, bypassing the King's vessels ferrying more people across. The soldiers helped the sailor dock.
"Get your daft arses in 'ere now 'fore yer all killed!" Gerard raged from the boat.
As angry as I was at my husband, I was relieved to see him.
My father groaned and shook a fist in his direction while taking Anne by the arm and dragging her to the small ship. "Don't think this puts you in my good books, ye rotten scalawag!" Papa spat out a few more curses at Gerard even as my husband helped him and Anne onto the ship.
"Give it a rest, Maurice!" Gerard nearly slurred.
"Look at ye!" Papa grated. "Had time to get three sheets to the wind before coming to save us, did ye?!"
"No! Yer barmy pride and joy drugged me!"
My father whacked him on the back of the head. "Don't insult my daughter again, ye liggin' maggot!" Then he turned to me and gave me a stiff nod. "That's my sailor!"
"Fuckin' hell! Belle!" Gerard turned to me and pointed to his feet. "Get 'ver 'ere righ' now!"
Just when I was about to move my feet in his direction reluctantly, a blast came from behind me. I whirled around to see large stones falling from the castle. In the huge, gaping hole, I could see Searlus wielding his lightning sword against a large mechanical creature being controlled by a man inside it. Searlus beat it back, but then I caught sight of Gaston and his men with a giant crossbow on their shoulders.
"No," I breathed. "No!"
The arrow flew. With a blur of speed, Searlus dropped his sword and caught the massive, hurtling thing in his hands before it could pierce his chest. But now he was weaponless, and the automaton took the advantage.
It lunged forward. Searlus tried to use the arrow to defend himself, but it was too late. The enemy clamped a steel claw around his throat and lifted him in the air.
Before I knew what I was doing, I was running toward the battle. I vaguely heard my name being shouted from behind, but I kept going. I was fast. So fast, I nearly stumbled. I realised my cuffs were the cause. If they could bound me across a whole field in a mere ten leaps, then maybe I could spring myself into one of the windows and reach him in time.
With all my might and a piercing scream, I jumped. I didn't have time to think about how painful the landing would be, but it didn't matter. I barely made it over a balcony. I could hear the fighting above me. I ran inside, lamenting my loss of memory again because I had no idea where to go in order to get to the King.
Then I recalled the aura in my mind before Searlus made his appearance at the ball. I closed my eyes and prayed that the castle would help. The red glow came to my mind's eye, along with a pounding headache. And then, I just knew. I knew where to go and how to get there. So, I ran through the dusty halls, and I caught sight of the bizarre things along the way. A broom was whacking a man unconscious, a chair was throwing a rebel over a bannister, and I even witnessed a standing clock slamming its doors on the head of a traitor.
After a fuckload of stairs, I finally reached the fight. I barrelled through the group of rebels already reloading the crossbow. The adrenaline rushing through my veins mixed with the power of my cuffs turned me rabid.
My fists flew in all directions, knocking even the largest man out of the break to plummet to the ground. Gaston got a punch in, breaking my lip in the process but it barely made me waver. I jeered at him. His eyes were wide with fear as I charged. He dropped to the ground for the trigger of the crossbow.
"Belle, no!" I heard Searlus cry.
Just as the large arrow catapulted toward me, I jumped. I swear the world around me slowed. In midair, I kicked Gaston on his cleft chin, kicking him right through the stone walls of the castle.
I dropped to the ground on all fours. My cuffs that had been glowing scarlet in the fight grew dim. That's when I was snatched from behind and lifted above the massive machine. I kicked and screamed as the world turned upside down. I could hear Searlus roar in outrage as I hung from my ankle.
"Well, now!" A man leered at me through the protective glass of his contraption. "So good to see you again, my dear. I was going to let you live, you know? But you are quite a nuisance."
"Let her go, Armand!" Searlus roared.
Armand chuckled. "My wife tells me you actually fell in love with this monster. I'm curious. Did you let him fuck you like the stray bitch you are? Oh, wait. That's right. You don't remember, do you?" He tutted and shook his head. "Damn. I really wanted to know."
"Prince Armand!" I heard Gerard yell through heaving breaths. "Please, Your Grace! Let me take her away from here. She won't meddle again, I swear it!"
"So sorry, that won't do. You should have controlled your wife before she decided to interrupt me." He clamped tighter to my ankle. It should have broken instantly, but it didn't. Still, I screamed as if it did. It honestly wasn't good thinking on my part but a mere reaction to what I really thought would be beyond painful. But then it did give me the idea to keep up the act. I screamed and cried. My cuffs were still working. Maybe it just needed a little recharge.
Searlus let out a vicious snarl at the same time Gerard cried out.
"LET HER GO!" Searlus bellowed.
"All right, all right," Armand rolled his eyes and then smirked. "A life for a life, dear cousin. You know the rules of alchemy. Come on then. Surrender and I will let your bitch go."
I shook my head and tried to look at Searlus. I caught a glimpse of his desperate face. We made eye contact briefly. I gave him an exaggerated wink while keeping up my pitiful whimpering and hoped he understood.
The King inhaled sharply. "Fine."
"Say it," Armand demanded. "Say you surrender for all to hear."
"Give Belle to her husband first, and I will," Searlus conceded.
"I don't think so," Armand scoffed and then hung me out of the hole in the wall.
I looked below me and panicked. We were so high!
"Belle!" Searlus shouted. "Pray for strength!" he pleaded.
"Ha!" laughed Armand. "If the gods do exist, you think they'd listen to this whore?"
That's when I remembered. The prayer for strength was written on my cuffs in my mother's tongue! "Kratos, donne-moi ta force!" I invocated with all my being.
The crystals glowed so brightly it blinded me. It must have blinded Armand as well because he screamed right before a rifle went off, and the sound of glass shattering filled my ears. I was released when the machine toppled over to the ground. I opened my eyes to find Gerard pulling me into his arms as Searlus wrestled with Armands machine.
I watched in horror as Armand swung a mechanical arm so hard that the contraption rolled over and out of the hole with Searlus trapped in its embrace.
I shrieked and scrambled to the edge. Searlus was hanging from his claws on a loosened stone, dangling from his leg. The King was growling something mad while trying to kick off his cousin, but he was causing the stone to dislodge further. He must have noticed, because he looked up at me and rasped, "I love you," just as the stone finally gave way.
With a broken scream of protest, I reached as far as I could and caught him by his mane. He growled and snarled from the pain. Even with my glowing cuffs, he was too heavy with Armand still clinging to him. That is when Gerard stood beside me and aimed his rifle at the King.
"Gerard, no, please!" I begged.
He fired.
There was a bullet hole through Armands terror-stricken face. The villain's grasp on the controls slipped away along with his soul, and the machine fell.
Searlus wrapped one hand around my wrist and used his free hand to dig his claws into the wall. I let go of his hair and held onto his arm with both hands as Gerard kept me in place and helped me haul him up.
"Heave!" I ordered. "Ho!" Gerard pulled with me at the same time. The three of us fell on our backs, atop of one another and wheezed. I could barely breathe with Searlus draped over me, but his weight filled me with relief and grounded me.
But then he wasn't moving.
"Searlus? Searlus!" I rolled him off of me and gasped at the sight of all the wounds he'd endure in the battle. His armour was torn in several places. He was bleeding. I removed his breastplate with barely any effort and began searching through his trousers.
"What the fuck are you doing?" Gerard shrieked, aghast.
I found what I was looking for and pulled out the vial that Anne had given him. I uncorked it, forced his massive jaw open, and poured the tonic in his mouth.
I waited on bated breath, dismayed when it didn't work right away. A sob escaped me that I didn't know had been trapped in my chest. I pushed the King's matted, bloody hair away from his face and caressed his cheek. An errant thought about his fur being so soft made me sob again.
Then his beautiful eyes fluttered open, and he groaned. He gave me a ghost of a smile before his eyes shifted and landed on Gerard. Then the King looked furious.
Searlus got up a bit too quickly and wavered, but then he caught Gerard by the collar and lifted him to eye level. I sat there, dumbfounded as Gerard yelped and begged for his life.
"Silence!" Searlus hissed. My husband shut his mouth and whimpered. "I am loath to know that I owe you a life debt, you stinking heap of horseshit! So, I won't rip your throat out, but that won't stop me from charging you with treason and leaving you to rot in the darkest pit I can find!" The King dropped him on his arse and pointed at me without looking. "Tell her the truth, and I'll spare you that fate as well, with exile as your punishment instead."
Gerard looked from me to the King and drooped. "The Esperanza wasn't captured," he muttered.
"LOUDER!" Searlus bellowed so loud that I had to cover my ears.
"I SOLD THE ESPERANZA TO ARMAND!" He shrieked back angrily. Then he gazed at me and started to weep.
I was too tired and shocked to react with the rage I would feel later. All I asked was, "why?"
"Pirates did capture us. We were surrounded. They took everything, save the ship. Left us alive. Then Armand's ship reached us after. He boarded. He told me the Esperanza was the fastest and sturdiest ship he'd ever seen and that he'd make me rich if I gave it to him. He offered the rest of the crew the same if they joined his militia." Gerard looked at me with his pained blue eyes. "We lost that trade, Belle. We would have lost our home. So, I made the deal. I sold the ship to him, and he paid me."
Silent tears streamed down my face as I listened to his story of betrayal. "Why didn't you come home? You had the money. My father would have understood. I would have too! Why didn't you come back?!"
Gerard hung his head and sighed. "I wasn't in my right mind. I was still grieving the loss of our child. And I was losing you too. And then I lost the money. By the time I wanted to come home, I had nothing to show for. So, I stayed away because I knew it'd be over between us anyway. I'm sorry," he finished with a whisper.
I stayed silent for a long time, looking at his still boyish face. My beautiful Gerard, who had swept me off my feet. Handsome and a damned good sailor. He really did seem like a stranger to me then.
"Papa was wrong. You're not a dog." I shook my head and scoffed mirthlessly. "You're much worse. At least a dog is loyal to their family," I said, barely any emotion to my words. I felt numb.
I turned to Searlus, who was staring at me warily and finally my furry overcame me. "You knew," I accused him. "You knew what he did, and you were going to let me leave with him. And you say you love me?!" I pointed at Gerard. "Fuck you!" I pointed at the King. "And fuck you too!" I stormed off, not knowing where the hell I was going.
"Belle!" Searlus yelled after me. "BELLE!"
I started to run, not understanding my error in doing so. Searlus was in a frenzy and chased after me. I looked behind me and barely let out a scream at the sight of the enormous panther-man bounding toward me. He pounced and cornered me.
"Leave me alone!" I yelled.
In response, he grabbed me by the arm and dragged me through the halls and down flights of stairs until we reached a room. It looked like a cave. I could barely see a thing, but the heat and humidity on my face told me there was some kind of hot spring nearby.
Searlus rounded on me and grasped me by the shoulders. He was panting. His eyes were almost entirely black, and he appeared crazed. There was a constant hum emanating from his chest. I was stunned motionless, every hair on my neck standing on end.
"I told you," he said on a growl, "that I'd been a fool." He brought his face mere inches away from mine and sniffed deeply. He gave me a look of such disgust that I felt embarrassed. So embarrassed that I grew defensive and angry again.
"Don't look at me like that! What the hell do you think I'm going to smell like after a brawl?! ROSES?!"
"If only you smelled of blood and sweat. But there is another scent that has lingered on you since you strutted up to me in my castle, at my ball, and insulted me for everyone in the blasted room to hear!"
Oh, shit, I thought with dread. I didn't have time to think much else because Searlus only drew closer and sniffed again.
"I was in denial before, but now I can't ignore it's him I've smelled on you all evening. You reek of that sorry excuse of a man. Do you think that makes me happy? Hm? To know I am the reason you were in someone else's bed instead of mine?! Not just someone else. But him! A leech not worthy of even looking at you!"
I tried to shake the confusion off me and failed. Before I understood that the beast was jealous–angry, and also aroused–he grated in my face again, only closer.
"I know what I am, but even I know I am more of a man than that lowlife traitor! I let you go once because I thought I was undeserving of you. I am not about to make the same mistake twice! And I'll tell you something else. I had no intention of letting him take you from me. Not until I was certain you'd recoil from me. Not until I was sure you were happy with that mongrel. Because that is what matters to me, Belle. Your happiness."
His voice faltered at the end, and he closed his eyes.
"Losing you," he sobbed, "knowing you'd forgotten me, it killed something inside of me. I thought I'd die of heartbreak, but I didn't. I kept waking up in this empty castle without you and I couldn't–I could not live the way I had lived before you came upon my doorstep!"
He leaned away and took a steadying breath. "So, I made a choice. That weak, pitiful thing that you destroyed in my heart, I buried it once and for all and I chose to fight. I had to fight Armand first before I had any chance of fighting for you."
He opened his eyes and searched my own. "It's over now," he murmured. "We're both free. And now that I've said my piece, you can storm out of here if you like, but I will not give up." His eyes grew fierce again. "Not this time. Not ever again. I will continue fighting for you. I don't care how long it takes." He bent low once more and whispered in my ear. "One day I will be the one you reek of."
I shuddered as warmth pooled between my legs. I swore I was going to die of heat.
He let me go and staggered backwards. His eyes rolled up behind his eyelids briefly as he swayed. I stared at his battered body and whatever shock I was in finally lifted.
"Searlus, you're hurt," my voice was so small, I barely recognised it.
"The water," he slurred, "get me in the water." He reached out to catch himself on the wall beside him, but I caught him instead.
"I have you," I consoled as I threw his arm over my shoulder. My cuffs glowed and flickered. He was starting to get more cumbersome, but I managed to get him to the spring and into the water.
"The cart... healing minerals..." he barely managed to say.
I got out of the water and found what he asked for.
I poured two large bottles worth of the stuff into the pool. Searlus sighed with relief almost immediately.
"Anne. Get someone... to fetch her. And come back. Don't leave me alone. Please."
How could I deny him? After I found someone to get Anne and any other healer on the grounds, I got in the spring with Searlus. "Come here, I'll hold you up," I told him as I moved behind him on the steps and hooked my arms under his shoulders to keep him above water.
"You always do," he mumbled back and fell asleep in my embrace.
