Karigan approached the door in the Mending Wing, the one guarded by the two silent statues. Faston gave her a barley there nod, the slightest uptick of his lips and Karigan slipped inside. Zachary lay on the narrow cot looking pale and drawn but his eyes were clear as he peered at her. Ben sat at his side, green ribbons flowing from his fingers and around the large gash on his shoulder. Zachary smiled softly at her and waved his fingers at her, gesturing for her to come over.

Karigan glanced over at Ben, who stayed focused on his task. She stepped over to his cot and gingerly sat on the edge near his hip. Zachary reached over and gripped her hand.

"You came," he whispered, his voice hoarse.

Karigan smiled softly. "Yes."

Ben shifted minutely, and Karigan shifted her eyes over to him before turning back to the king. "How are you feeling?"

He grunted. "Better than I have in weeks."

Karigan bristled. What if it hadn't been removed? What could've happened to him?

Zachary squeezed her hand and pulled her from her thoughts. "I'm fine."

Karigan rolled her shoulders. "How are your twins?" she asked and changed the subject.

Zachary smiled a smile only a parent could give. It was radiant, full. It was a smile that had her grinning back. It was pure joy. "They are beautiful. Healthy."

"Good."

"Sire, I'm finished," Ben spoke up and Karigan ducked her head from Ben's glances. "I don't think you need to stay here, however. Your fever is going down, and I think now that the…now that it's gone I don't feel like there is any more threat."

Zachary mumbled a thank you to Ben.

"Shall I look at your back now?" He asked softly.

Karigan sighed softly and nodded. Ben didn't ask her to leave for another room, nor did he say anything to Zachary as he lay there watching. He simple moved behind her and eased the back of her shirt high enough to see the mess of scars. Zachary's hand gripped hers and she lifted her eyes to see his sad ones. She squeezed his hand back and gave him a small smile.

Ben poked and touched, Karigan hissed only once at the tenderness he found. Finally, he dropped the edge of her shirt back in place. "You didn't tear any open again. But there will be quite the bruise."

Karigan nodded over her shoulder at him and gave him a quiet thank you.

Ben retreated from the room as quietly as possible. Karigan turned her eyes back to the king who was watching her with a gentle, secret smile.

"What?" she whispered at him.

Zachary chuckled quietly and sat up with a groan. He tugged his tattered shirt back over his shoulder and pulled it closed. Karigan felt his heat and had to remind herself not to lean into his chest. Zachary, apparently, didn't have the same restraint and leaned forward and pressed his lips to her temple. Karigan closed her eyes with a sigh that was too lose to a moan.

"I have missed you," he said as he pulled away but stayed close.

"Mmmh," she hummed. "Me too."

Aside from when she'd given her report a few days ago, Karigan had been too busy learning her new position from Mara to think about meeting with the king, let alone actually slip away for a quiet few minutes.

Karigan turned, the corner of her lips brushing against his jaw before pulling away. "You should rest."

Zachary sighed and opened his mouth to argue but Karigan merely glared at him and he shut it.

"Rest."

"Fine." Everything in his tone said he was humoring her but she didn't particularly care. "But tomorrow have dinner with me and see the twins."

Karigan smiled, though her throat closed a little. Estora was dead after a hard birth. She was her friend, despite the awkwardness that surrounded them. She missed her, missed her smile and gentle friendship. Missed not being able to truly mend their friendship before her death. Karigan also wasn't sure how hard it would be, to see Estora's children. Zachary and Estora's children. But she would, she would because Zachary was giving her that joyous smile of a parent. "Alright."

Zachary stood from her cot and Karigan braced his shoulders as he wobbled.

"I'm fine." He tried to pull away only to wobble again.

"Mmmh hmm." Karigan hummed at him as she helped him to the door. "Faston," she addressed the silent guard in the hallway. "Take his arm please, as you go. He's not as steady as he thinks he is."

Faston glanced from Karigan to Zachary and gave her that small not there smile again. "Aye, ma'am."

"He listens to me," Karigan snipped.

"He's afraid of you," Zachary snipped back.

"He's smart."

Faston, wisely, said nothing and took Zachary's elbow. Karigan watched them walk slowly, with Faston holding him upright by his elbow, and pulled herself away. She wanted to slip into her room, have silence to think, silence away from glances and looks. True silence. Her back ached and she wanted to lay down.

When Karigan opened the door to room, all her hopes of a simple evening with Ghost Kitty vanished. Laren sat stiffly in the chair pulled from her desk. Karigan looked her old captain over and closed the door.

"What can I do for you?"

Laren took a deep breath, her hands folded in her lap. "I think I owe you an apology. Or…at least an explanation."

Karigan sat on her bed and faced her old captain, while leaning on one of the giant bed posts. "You are protective of him. Of the country. I understand that."

"He is my moonling," she sighed. "And I regret he has not been able to be…happy."

Karigan watched her captain with eyes that felt older than she was, with a soul that was tired and aged more than it should be. "We all wish we could be happy."

"I still worry about the two of you. What you together could mean. But times are changed, the world is unsteady. War is coming, I fear, and he will need someone."

Karigan blinked away tears. "A lot changed this winter. A lot happened during that battle. A lot happened to me," her voice rasped and she had to stop and take a deep breath. Had to push away the memory and sounds, push away her voice for a moment. "And he was there with me when I was…when I was so broken. I do not know if I will ever be…" Karigan took another shuttering breath and looked down at her lap. "if I'll ever be whole again, but he makes me feel like I have the strength to try."

Laren reached across the gap and gripped her clenched hands with her own. "My dear girl. I am sorry this burden has been thrust on you."

Karigan shrugged and Laren leaned back, taking her hands with her.

"Be smart. Whatever you do. Be smart."

Karigan looked up at the older woman, her hazel eyes shimmering.

"That is all I ask. Be smart." Laren stood and squeezed her shoulder before retreating from her room.

Karigan watched her go before wiping her eyes and laying on her bed. She hissed as her back stretched and ached from the fall. She had to shift and move before she was comfortable and could close her eyes. She would think about Laren's words later. Right now, she thought she'd search out that clearing with the white horse.

Some of you had mentioned Laren's behavior felt a little out of place. I hope this made her actions make a little more sense. she is, after all, protecting king and country first and while I think she would want him to be happy...she wants everything to be secure more. Anyway...let me know what ya'll think