"I've this for you," Ben said as he handed Karigan a small jar. "The Elatians sent this for you. Well," he shrugged, "they sent me some instructions and a few ingredients and I made it but…"

Karigan took the jar and peered at the cream. "And what is this?"

"Medicinal cream. It should help with the scaring and some of the pain."

Karigan closed the jar and tucked it into her pocket. "Thank you, Ben."

Ben nodded and Karigan sipped out of the room quietly. She fingered the jar as she walked slowly back to her room. She hoped it helped; hoped it helped with the scars. She didn't think she was an overly vain woman, the gods knew she had more than enough scars, but that didn't seem to stop the small part of her that was worried for what Zachary would do. Karigan knew he'd seen her back but that was before, before time had the chance to dull the memory and before a red, terrible wound had turned into a permanent, awful scar.

Karigan was at her room before she realized it and pulled out the small jar. She stared at it, turning it around her hand. She stared at it, and tried to reach her arm over her head to her back. Her muscles pulled and strained, and she dropped her arm with a grunt of pain. She looked down at the jar and tossed it onto her bed with a small sigh. Tears crept up her throat, but she refused to let them fall.

She could ask Mara. She should ask Mara, but the idea of Mara seeing her scars…the scars that nearly broke her. Karigan wasn't sure she could stand that. She knew Mara wouldn't judge her. But she couldn't. Couldn't show Mara. Not yet. Mara wore her scars like a badge of honor, as something she survived and was better for it. Karigan's were a mark of a broken time. She wasn't ready for her friend to see how broken she was. How damaged.

Karigan picked up the jar, wiped the lone tear that managed to escape and turned back to the hallway. He's seen her back once, was there when she was at her most broken. Karigan hoped she wasn't overstepping herself. She hoped this wouldn't be too inappropriate. She gripped the jar, buried in her pocket, tight and she slowly made her way to the king's chambers.

As she walked, Karigan spotted the various Weapons along the walls. She followed the dark shadows to the king's sitting room, with Faston standing stoic by the door. "Is he busy?"

Faston glanced at the door then back at her. "For you, I doubt it."

Karigan stuck her tongue out at him even as her cheeks burned. She hesitated still, her hand crushing the jar in pocket. She took a deep breath and knocked on the door. Zachary's quiet "enter" answered her. Karigan eased the door open and slipped inside. Zachary sat on the couch, bent over more papers. Even more were spread out on the small table in front of him. The fire was crackling and Karigan smiled at the warmth in the room.

"Yes?" Zachary asked tiredly, without looking up from his papers.

"Are you busy?" Karigan asked as she slowly walked further into the room.

Zachary looked up from his papers with wide eyes. "Kari?"

Karigan smiled and stopped in front of him. Zachary stood with a smile. "Am I interrupting anything?"

"No," Zachary looked down at his scattering of papers. "Well…it can wait."

"I can come back if—"

"No. It's fine."

Karigan smiled softly at him and let him tug her down onto the couch next to him. She kept her hand wrapped around the jar while Zachary ran his thumb over the back of her free hand.

"What can I do for you?"

Karigan took a deep breath and pulled her hand free so she could ring them together in her lap. "I wanted to ask…" She paused and had to lick her lips. "I need some help…"

"Karigan," Zachary gripped her wringing hands. "What's wrong?"

She took a deep breath and pulled the jar out of her pocket. "Ben gave me come cream, but I can't…I can't reach and—" Karigan clamped her mouth shut against the tears that crept up her throat. "Dammit," she whispered harshly to herself.

Zachary gently took the jar from her hands and gripped her hands.

"I thought about asking Mara but," Karigan took a deep breath, "I can't…I don't want her to see…"

"I understand," Zachary said when Karigan couldn't force anymore words out. He rubbed his thumb across the back of her hand, squeezed. "I understand."

Karigan covered her eyes with her free, shaking hand. She wiped her eyes before dropping her hand. "I—I don't want anyone to see but—"

Zachary tugged on her hand. "It's okay. Karigan…it's okay."

Karigan smiled, and slowly turned around on the couch and turned her back to him before she lost her nerve. She tugged the back of her shirt up. She shivered as the warm air hit her back. Her heart thumped in her chest and Karigan had to tell herself to breathe.

"What is this supposed to do?" Zachary asked and Karigan heard the pop of the lip.

"Ben said it should help with the scaring. And some with the pain. The Elatians helped him make it."

Zachary touched cream covered fingers to her shoulder and Karigan hissed at the cold.

"Sorry."

Karigan made herself relax her shoulder. "It's just cold."

Zachary brought his fingers back to her shoulder. Slowly, gently he started rubbing the cream into her scars. Karigan sat, quiet, too scared to talk, and Zachary let her sit in the silence. The fire crackled behind her. Eventually the cream starting to tingle across her back and she could feel her muscles relaxing; the constant pain numbing. Karigan hummed as Zachary rubbed the tingling cream into her back.

"Better?"

Karigan nodded. "I don't know what's in it but it…this is the best my back has felt in weeks."

Zachary made a soft noise.

"How…" Karigan cleared her throat, "how bad is it?"

Zachary tugged her shirt out of her hand and laid it back down. He turned her around gently by her shoulders. She was relieved to see no pity in his eyes. "Kari," he said gently. "It isn't bad. It is what it is. It is the result of evil things done by an evil woman. It is what you have survived."

Karigan smiled softly. "It is a mess of raw, red scars and missing muscle."

Zachary put his hand on her cheek. Ran his thumb across her cheek bone. "You are…and always will be beautiful."

Tears slipped down her cheeks and Zachary wiped them away. He tucked her against his chest and lay back against the couch arm. Karigan nestled against his chest and when her eyes sagged close she let them.

Sorry for the long wait! I've been busy editing my own manuscript to send back to my editor. Now that I'm waiting for the return of her red pen I have some time for more chapters.

Let me know what ya'll think.