A/N: It's me again with my usual comments before the next chapter! I didn't update as soon as I wanted to, but I think I finally got around to it. Has Kyree's eventual purpose dawned on anyone yet? I'm not going to give away what will end up happening, nyah! Not that you want that anyway. Why are all you reviewers obsessed with underwear? Not that I mind. I like reviews!
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Kyree looked into the man's large blue eyes. She swore they expressed his pain, and she noticed something else, too. What was it? Loneliness? Fear? She couldn't quite tell. Instead of pondering it further, she spoke.
"I see you've awakened," she smiled at him. "Do you need anything?"
"Who are you?" he repeated.
"My name is Kyree. I found you unconscious while gathering healing herbs. What happened to you?"
Marth groaned slightly as he shifted position in the bed. "Robbers. They beat me up and stole my horse."
"I thought so," Kyree spat disgustedly. "Bandits have been a problem here lately."
"Had I known, I would have armed myself," Marth said softly.
"You were traveling unarmed?" Kyree squeaked. "Pardon me for asking, but are you extremely brave, overconfident in your fighting skills, or just plain foolish?"
"I wasn't really traveling," he explained. "I was just out riding, though I guess it was stupid of me to venture alone into an unfamiliar area, especially without a weapon." Marth wore a look of utter annoyance at himself.
"It's not your fault if you didn't know what to expect," Kyree soothed. "Anyway, now you know who I am, so who are you?"
Marth managed a lopsided smile. "If I told you, you'd only think I was delusional from a blow to the head."
"Oh?" Kyree responded. "How ridiculous could your story be?"
"Trust me, you will not believe me," Marth insisted.
"All right, you don't have to tell me now," Kyree assured, placing a hand on his shoulder. "I think I should change your bandages now." She left the room, then came back with the bandages and a jar of some kind of ointment, now fully dressed. "I hope I didn't take too long."
"No, no," Marth responded. "I'm certainly not going anywhere."
Kyree sat down on the bed beside Marth and began to unwind the old bandages. Marth lay still, allowing Kyree to lift his torso onto her lap to make her task easier. He found her touch gentle and her voice calming. Kyree then spoke, "Oops, I forgot something. I'll be right back."
She exited the room once more and came back with a bowl of water and a damp cloth.
"I must keep your wounds clean," she stated. "I don't want you to get an infection."
As Kyree began cleaning his wounds, Marth spoke up. "Kyree, I can't thank you enough for saving my life."
Kyree blushed at his words. "It's nothing. I did what any decent person would do. You needed help, I provided it."
Marth studied the small woman for a moment. "How did you get me back here? You don't look like you could lift me."
Kyree merely gave a mysterious smile. "Let's just say I have my ways." She continued bathing his wounds.
Marth suddenly changed the subject. "What happened to my clothes?" he asked, gesturing to his bare chest and turning a bit red. "And did you...?"
"Ruined," Kyree answered. "My brother, Ethan, is a tailor, but he couldn't repair them. And did I what?" she asked, confused.
"Did you...remove them?" Marth asked, embarrassed.
"I had to, to get to those awful wounds. I'm sorry if I embarrassed you."
"It's ok," Marth whispered. "I know you didn't mean any harm." He closed back, resting against Kyree's knee.
"I'll find something for you to wear," she promised. "Ethan's a little heavier than you, but I'm sure his clothes would fit well enough." She began applying the ointment to Marth's wounds. He winced.
"That stings...." he murmured, not opening his eyes.
"I wish I had something that didn't sting. I don't want to hurt you," she cooed. As soon as she'd finished rebandaging Marth's wounds, Kyree asked, "Do you want something to eat?"
"Please."
Kyree crossed the small house to the kitchen area. She poured some cold broth into a bowl, then grabbed a small loaf of bread. When she returned, she questioned, "Can you feed yourself?"
"I can't sit up," he answered.
"I think you can eat this without any trouble," she said, breaking a piece of bread from the loaf and handing it to him. He chewed slowly, but managed to swallow it.
"Do you want this?" Kyree inquired once he'd finished, gesturing to the bowl. "I'll have to feed it to you, though."
"That's fine," he said softly, obviously too miserable to be proud. Kyree spooned the liquid into his mouth. Marth relaxed, letting her. When he'd finished, Kyree set the bowl aside and stood up to leave, when Marth grabbed her hand, a desperate look in his eyes. "Please, stay with me. I don't want to be alone."
Kyree sat down again, taking his hand in both of hers. "I'll stay. It must be frightening to be injured and alone in a strange place." Now comforted, Marth closed his eyes once more and fell into a light sleep. Kyree tucked the quilt around his shoulders, whispering, "Sleep well."
