Chapter 10
I felt the pain around my middle as soon as I awoke. Indeed, my father had often told me that the elves were wonderful healers, but constantly told me that healing takes time.
"The smartest thing to do," he said once, "is not to get hit in the first place!"
He gave me one of his smiles after that comment. My father had been my main source of fighting techniques when I was growing up. Of course, I had a tutor on the subject, as I did for so many others, but my father always insisted that he have a hand in whatever I do. He was always going on about being prepared for ruling a kingdom, and I knew that, from his years of experience and guidance, I would be ready.
I tried to roll onto my side, in the hopes of relieving some of the pain. The movement was far from effective. My waist was so wrenched out of proportion that my eyes welled with tears. At that moment I felt a something cool touch my forehead.
It was Dalome. She smiled at me and wiped my forehead. In a mix of her own native language and mine, as well as several hand gestures (mostly on her part; it was too painful for me), she forced me onto my back and changed the dressing on my wound.
She told me she would be back later and disappeared into the camp. I lifted my head slightly to glance around the camp. It was by far more beautiful at dusk than it was at dawn. I took in all the details I had missed yesterday-in my agony; I could barely manage to my bed last night, let alone take in the surroundings. When I had finally awakened from my stupor, dusk had fallen and the lights were out. Dinner had been a long process (although from all my education I was able to manage through it without any major difficulty-I had hoped no one had noticed when I picked up the wrong spoon by mistake).
"Don't strain your neck." A voice commanded. I paid it no mind and rolled my eyes to see the form of Ophelia floating to me. "I said," she exclaimed when she reached my side, "don't strain your neck!"
I complied, merely because I could not think of any witty comeback phrases to offer. It was all for the better I suppose-best not to argue with someone who takes care of you.
She examined my wound closely and then asked me how it was.
"Fine," I said irritably. "How is Adelio?"
"He was fine last I checked," she said, "which was about forty minutes ago. Dalome would have let me known if there were any change in his condition."
"Forty minutes!" I exclaimed. "What have you been doing all this time?"
"Gathering herbs for you," she replied evenly. "I gathered the herbs for Adelio's wound last night, because he needed them much earlier than you. I'm sorry it took me so long, but there is one plant which is particularly hard to find." She paused and examined my wound more closely.
I looked away, guilty. I didn't know why I was acting so rude, she had no reason to show loyalty or affection to me. She had all the reasons in the world to be at Adelio's side day and night. I didn't know why that filled me with anger and sorrow at the same time, but it did. Her dedication, not only to Adelio but also to me, was endearing.
"You said you feel fine?" She questioned, her voice interrupting my thoughts.
"Yes," I replied evenly.
"Liar," She shot back. It was not an exclamation, but a mere statement. I was both affronted and shocked at how she could know. "Your blood is clotting right here," she pointed. I managed to lift my head enough to look, "but it is tinted yellow. You are obviously in pain. Any one with any medical training at all could pronounce that. Don't lie to me, tell me how you really feel."
"I don't think my vocabulary is such that I can express it," I said with as much diplomacy as I could muster in my position.
"Try," she commanded.
"I feel like a nightmare," I said.
She said nothing in response, but her eyes wandered down to my abdomen. She examined the bandage once more before unwrapping it.
"Dalome just changed that," I told her.
"I know," she replied.
"Then why are you unwrapping it?" I demanded.
She paused, and finished the process. Then she said "I am supplying additional herbs to the ones that have already been placed under your bandage. In addition, I feel that, for temporary comfort's sake, your bandage was not wound tightly enough last night. This may have felt fine then, but a loose bandage can delay the healing process."
I said nothing, but I got goose bumps all over when she started to remove the herbs. Her hands came in contact with my skin, and they felt like icicles. She noticed.
"Sorry," she said. "I know my hands are cold."
"It's not a problem," I replied.
She continued to add herbs, and then she started to reapply the bandage.
"Stand up," she ordered. I complied, although it was not easy. She encircled my chest with her arms as she tied an extra bandage around me. Her hair hit my chest, and I was surprised at the softness of it. I placed my hand upon her head.
Her eyes shot up at me-she was done wrapping the bandage. I said nothing, and she pulled me into a tight embrace.
"I'm sorry," she whispered.
"For what?" I questioned.
"I am the cause of all of this. I should have forbid you to come. If you hadn't been with us-"
"You would be dead by now," I finished. "Face it, Ophelia. You needed me at that attack. You could not have handled so many ogres by yourself. Well," I revised as she glared at me, "you could have. I know you are an amazing fighter; I have seen it. That does not mean you would not have gotten injured."
She sighed deeply. "I know," she said. "I just feel guilty. I woke up last night and thought only of Adelio's condition for a full 15 minutes. When I remembered you were hurt too, I felt so awful."
"You have no alliance to me, except that of a servant of the court to her future ruler, and you know perfectly well that I do not want you to treat me as such. You were quite right to think only of Adelio. He is your friend and he is badly hurt. I should do the same if I were ever in your position."
At times like these I saw the pixie side of Ophelia. I knew, by sheer instinct, that she had so much more to say. Yet she held not an expression on her face, except for her neutral one. After a pause or two, I asked to see Adelio.
"Of course!" she exclaimed, "Right this way!"
She led me to another part of the camp, explaining that Adelio had been moved during the night. We approached and I saw Dalome sitting by his side. Upon our arrival, Ophelia questioned after the man, and she and Dalome exchanged quite a few words in Dalome's language, only a few of which I picked up on. She nodded and turned to me.
"I am going to gather more herbs for Adelio, would you like to come with me?"
I responded negatively, and she told me that if I started to feel ill that I should lie down. I nodded and turned to Adelio and sat beside him.
He was asleep, and apparently he was fading in and out between consciousness and unconsciousness, as he had been doing most of the night. He looked so pale, I could not help but wonder if it was his time to die. I knew he would be all right, but I was worried none- the- less about his condition.
*Author's Notes:
I'm sorry!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I know, I know, I know, NO EXCUSE for not updating in MONTHS!!! (Not that anyone reads this, but STILL.). I'll try harder, really I will, to be a good author and update frequently. Note that this chapter is in the perspective of Osian, for those who didn't see it. Thanks to all who reviewed, but especially marina eyes, because that review kind of kicked me into a writing mode again. Speaking of reviews, as we are, feel free to do so! It's a little button and an action that takes very few seconds, but it means a world of difference to me! Thank you for reading! Tell me what you think! Are there any plot developments you suspect? Please share! Thank you*
I felt the pain around my middle as soon as I awoke. Indeed, my father had often told me that the elves were wonderful healers, but constantly told me that healing takes time.
"The smartest thing to do," he said once, "is not to get hit in the first place!"
He gave me one of his smiles after that comment. My father had been my main source of fighting techniques when I was growing up. Of course, I had a tutor on the subject, as I did for so many others, but my father always insisted that he have a hand in whatever I do. He was always going on about being prepared for ruling a kingdom, and I knew that, from his years of experience and guidance, I would be ready.
I tried to roll onto my side, in the hopes of relieving some of the pain. The movement was far from effective. My waist was so wrenched out of proportion that my eyes welled with tears. At that moment I felt a something cool touch my forehead.
It was Dalome. She smiled at me and wiped my forehead. In a mix of her own native language and mine, as well as several hand gestures (mostly on her part; it was too painful for me), she forced me onto my back and changed the dressing on my wound.
She told me she would be back later and disappeared into the camp. I lifted my head slightly to glance around the camp. It was by far more beautiful at dusk than it was at dawn. I took in all the details I had missed yesterday-in my agony; I could barely manage to my bed last night, let alone take in the surroundings. When I had finally awakened from my stupor, dusk had fallen and the lights were out. Dinner had been a long process (although from all my education I was able to manage through it without any major difficulty-I had hoped no one had noticed when I picked up the wrong spoon by mistake).
"Don't strain your neck." A voice commanded. I paid it no mind and rolled my eyes to see the form of Ophelia floating to me. "I said," she exclaimed when she reached my side, "don't strain your neck!"
I complied, merely because I could not think of any witty comeback phrases to offer. It was all for the better I suppose-best not to argue with someone who takes care of you.
She examined my wound closely and then asked me how it was.
"Fine," I said irritably. "How is Adelio?"
"He was fine last I checked," she said, "which was about forty minutes ago. Dalome would have let me known if there were any change in his condition."
"Forty minutes!" I exclaimed. "What have you been doing all this time?"
"Gathering herbs for you," she replied evenly. "I gathered the herbs for Adelio's wound last night, because he needed them much earlier than you. I'm sorry it took me so long, but there is one plant which is particularly hard to find." She paused and examined my wound more closely.
I looked away, guilty. I didn't know why I was acting so rude, she had no reason to show loyalty or affection to me. She had all the reasons in the world to be at Adelio's side day and night. I didn't know why that filled me with anger and sorrow at the same time, but it did. Her dedication, not only to Adelio but also to me, was endearing.
"You said you feel fine?" She questioned, her voice interrupting my thoughts.
"Yes," I replied evenly.
"Liar," She shot back. It was not an exclamation, but a mere statement. I was both affronted and shocked at how she could know. "Your blood is clotting right here," she pointed. I managed to lift my head enough to look, "but it is tinted yellow. You are obviously in pain. Any one with any medical training at all could pronounce that. Don't lie to me, tell me how you really feel."
"I don't think my vocabulary is such that I can express it," I said with as much diplomacy as I could muster in my position.
"Try," she commanded.
"I feel like a nightmare," I said.
She said nothing in response, but her eyes wandered down to my abdomen. She examined the bandage once more before unwrapping it.
"Dalome just changed that," I told her.
"I know," she replied.
"Then why are you unwrapping it?" I demanded.
She paused, and finished the process. Then she said "I am supplying additional herbs to the ones that have already been placed under your bandage. In addition, I feel that, for temporary comfort's sake, your bandage was not wound tightly enough last night. This may have felt fine then, but a loose bandage can delay the healing process."
I said nothing, but I got goose bumps all over when she started to remove the herbs. Her hands came in contact with my skin, and they felt like icicles. She noticed.
"Sorry," she said. "I know my hands are cold."
"It's not a problem," I replied.
She continued to add herbs, and then she started to reapply the bandage.
"Stand up," she ordered. I complied, although it was not easy. She encircled my chest with her arms as she tied an extra bandage around me. Her hair hit my chest, and I was surprised at the softness of it. I placed my hand upon her head.
Her eyes shot up at me-she was done wrapping the bandage. I said nothing, and she pulled me into a tight embrace.
"I'm sorry," she whispered.
"For what?" I questioned.
"I am the cause of all of this. I should have forbid you to come. If you hadn't been with us-"
"You would be dead by now," I finished. "Face it, Ophelia. You needed me at that attack. You could not have handled so many ogres by yourself. Well," I revised as she glared at me, "you could have. I know you are an amazing fighter; I have seen it. That does not mean you would not have gotten injured."
She sighed deeply. "I know," she said. "I just feel guilty. I woke up last night and thought only of Adelio's condition for a full 15 minutes. When I remembered you were hurt too, I felt so awful."
"You have no alliance to me, except that of a servant of the court to her future ruler, and you know perfectly well that I do not want you to treat me as such. You were quite right to think only of Adelio. He is your friend and he is badly hurt. I should do the same if I were ever in your position."
At times like these I saw the pixie side of Ophelia. I knew, by sheer instinct, that she had so much more to say. Yet she held not an expression on her face, except for her neutral one. After a pause or two, I asked to see Adelio.
"Of course!" she exclaimed, "Right this way!"
She led me to another part of the camp, explaining that Adelio had been moved during the night. We approached and I saw Dalome sitting by his side. Upon our arrival, Ophelia questioned after the man, and she and Dalome exchanged quite a few words in Dalome's language, only a few of which I picked up on. She nodded and turned to me.
"I am going to gather more herbs for Adelio, would you like to come with me?"
I responded negatively, and she told me that if I started to feel ill that I should lie down. I nodded and turned to Adelio and sat beside him.
He was asleep, and apparently he was fading in and out between consciousness and unconsciousness, as he had been doing most of the night. He looked so pale, I could not help but wonder if it was his time to die. I knew he would be all right, but I was worried none- the- less about his condition.
*Author's Notes:
I'm sorry!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I know, I know, I know, NO EXCUSE for not updating in MONTHS!!! (Not that anyone reads this, but STILL.). I'll try harder, really I will, to be a good author and update frequently. Note that this chapter is in the perspective of Osian, for those who didn't see it. Thanks to all who reviewed, but especially marina eyes, because that review kind of kicked me into a writing mode again. Speaking of reviews, as we are, feel free to do so! It's a little button and an action that takes very few seconds, but it means a world of difference to me! Thank you for reading! Tell me what you think! Are there any plot developments you suspect? Please share! Thank you*