Sypha slipped under Trevor's arm and wrapped her hand around his waist. "Let's get you inside and dress these wounds." Then she turned to their friend and addressed him, "Alucard, can we have a bath drawn in my chambers for Trevor?"
"Certainly," replied Alucard, "I'll take care of it myself."
"I'll help you," added Greta, and they headed off toward the kitchen together.
Trevor leaned down burying his nose in Sypha's hair to catch her scent. "Mmmm," he breathed in with a smile on his face. "I love you," he said.
"I know," she replied as she held him tighter and fought back her tears.
….oOo….
It was slow going but Sypha managed to get Trevor to her room at about the same time Alucard and Greta arrived with the tub and water.
"Alucard," implored Sypha, "can you get me some Athelas?"
Confused, Alucard asked "Athelas?"
"Kingsfoil," translated Sypha.
"Kingsfoil," he knowingly repeated, "Aye, it's a weed. I'll bring some up with whiskey and bandages for his wounds."
As he turned to leave Sypha ran to him and whispered in his ear, "Can you also send up some beer for Trevor?"
Alucard turned to her with a knowing smile. "Certainly," he said.
As soon as he and Greta left the room Sypha returned to Trevor saying, "Let's get you out of these clothes."
"Sypha," said Trevor pulling her close as she started unbuttoning his shirt, "I know you can't wait to get me undressed but I'm not sure I'm in any condition to…"
"Trevor!" she retorted indignantly, playfully smacking his arm, "Shut up!"
"Aaarg," he groaned grabbing his arm where she hit him, "that hurt – everything hurts."
"Yes," replied Sypha, "so let's get you in the tub and cleaned so I can dress your wounds and mend you, my love."
When she finally got him out of his many layers of clothes, all blood stained and tattered from battle, she carefully helped him lower himself into the bath. He let out an appreciative sigh as he leaned back in the hot water and relaxed.
She took a clean cloth and started washing him. She began with his face, bestowing several kisses on him as she went. Then she concentrated on the worst of his wounds.
Alucard returned with the kingsfoil, supplies, some food, and of course - beer. Sypha thanked him and took the tray placing it on a low table near the tub.
When Trevor saw the tankard of ale he exclaimed, "Alucard, my saviour!"
Alucard looked at Sypha and winked, "Actually, it was Sypha's idea." Sypha blushed and turned away.
Saying, "Let me know if you need anything else," Alucard left the room.
Sypha then helped Trevor drink some of the beer. He turned to her, licking his lips with a satisfied smile. It was then that all of the emotion of the past two weeks burst upon her and she started to cry.
Trevor reached out and cupped her cheek, wiping her tears away with his thumb. She smiled and leaned into his touch.
"What is it, Sypha?" he asked with loving concern.
"I thought you were dead! I found I was pregnant and I felt so alone!" she said.
"I had to do it," he replied with a pained look in his eyes, "I had no other choice. I had to do it for you and our son."
She nodded in understanding. "How did you know? Your last words to me," she chuckled, shaking her head, "I get it now, but how did you know then? I didn't even know yet."
Trevor shrugged smugly, "I'm a Belmont. We know these things."
"And you know it's a boy?" Sypha asked.
Trevor nodded.
"You'll have to teach me this skill someday," she said with a grin.
"Sorry," he replied, "it's genetic."
Just then Trevor reached up and pulled her, fully clothed, down into the tub with him.
"Trevor!" she squealed as she landed in his lap, water soaking her clothes and splashing onto the floor. She started to get angry and squirmed in protest.
"Trevor, you are incorrigible!" she said, splashing him with water, but he pulled her close and kissed her passionately and she could not resist.
….oOo….
Later that evening, Trevor was sitting up in bed eating and drinking more beer. Sypha, now in a dressing gown as her clothes were soaked, was carefully tending to his many wounds.
"What are these?" she asked running her fingers over a series of short incisions peppering his back and right arm.
"Small daggers thrown by some mummy men," he answered. She treated them with some whiskey to stave off infection.
"And these blisters?" she indicated, also on his arm.
"Gergoth burns," was the answer. Salve was applied to these.
"These parallel scratches? I see you have them on both arms," she pointed out.
"Gabion claw marks from the catacombs under Targoviste," he replied.
She then moved to his leg and with some tweezers started pulling some debris out of a wound on his thigh as he winced. "This?" she asked, holding one particularly large piece up for him to see.
"Golem shrapnel, remember in the great hall…?"
"Ah, yes," she remembered and went back to work removing the rest of it and cleaning the wound.
Next she noticed the nasty slash mark across his abdomen, thankfully not too deep. Running her fingers along it, she he looked at him questioningly.
"That," he replied, "along with the ones on my shins and my right shoulder are vampire blade wounds courtesy of Ratko."
Accompanied by many groans and more winces from Trevor, she took to suturing up and treating these blade wounds with the kingsfoil. When she finished the worst one, on his shoulder, she noticed his neck.
"What about these red marks on your neck?" she asked next.
"Strangulation marks," he choked out, "from a giant mummy."
His knuckles were split and scabbed from hand to hand combat. His body was also covered with many small cuts and dozens of bruises of all shapes and sizes, mostly from his battle with Death not to mention the multiple concussions he suffered. But Trevor had told her that Belmonts were blessed with great endurance and healing ability and so she knew he would fully recover.
'Thank God!' thought Sypha with no small amount of irony.
Next she coaxed him to lie down and she began to wrap him with blankets and furs to keep him warm. Before she could finish however, he reached for her and pulled her under the blankets with him, wrapping her up in his arms.
"Now," he said snuggling her tightly under his chin, "I am going to sleep for a year and you are going to stay right here with me."
With a contented smile on her lips, Sypha gladly allowed herself to be cocooned in the warmth of his embrace and soon they were both fast asleep.
….oOo….
About a month later Trevor woke up (not for the first time) with Sypha nestled in his arms, his hand resting atop hers on her still flat belly. He felt well enough to do the task that he had been meaning to do since he returned. So he quietly slipped out of bed, leaving Sypha asleep, and got dressed in his old clothes.
'Oh, these are worthless,' he thought to himself, 'I'll have to do something about that too.'
It was early in the morning so Trevor was able to slip out of the castle and through the new village of Belmont without being seen. He went to the Belmont Hold and lowered himself down.
First he went to find himself some new clothes. There was a room lined with wardrobes full of Belmont heirloom clothing. Much to his delight he was able to replace all of his tattered old clothes with identical new ones, Belmont crests included. There was one particular wardrobe he found that contained many beautiful gowns some of which he remembered his mother having worn. He would have to bring Sypha here. For now he chose one particular gown of a lovely shade of blue, to bring to her.
Next he went in search of what was his original purpose. He found it in the open area of the Hold amongst the books and other display cases. It was a glass case full of beautiful gemstone jewelry – the Belmont family jewels. He knew exactly what he wanted. It was a medium sized diamond surrounded by rubies and sapphires. Once he retrieved it from the cabinet he took it, along with the dress, back to the castle.
He stealthily snuck back into their room. He laid the dress out on a chair for Sypha, disrobed and climbed back into bed with her.
"Mmmm, Trevor," she said sleepily as she rolled over closer to him.
"Hello, Love," he whispered into her ear and then kissed it and sucked on her lobe. She giggled and ran her hand up his muscled and scarred arm and into his hair.
"You must be feeling better," she stated.
"Indeed," he replied.
She started placing light kisses along his collarbone and breathed in his scent. "You smell of fresh air. Have you been outside?" she asked with a hint of concern.
"I can't put one past you," he chuckled, "Yes, I have."
"Where did you go?" she inquired, resuming her kisses and combing her fingers through his shaggy mane.
"I went to the Hold to get some clothes," he replied, "I brought you something."
She looked up at him and he indicated the chair with his eyes. She rolled around in his arms so she could see what he was looking at. She snuggled backward into his embrace and said, "Oh, Trevor! What a beautiful gown! Is it for me?"
"Yes," he replied, "It was my mother's favorite. She was taller than you so you might have to alter it."
"Oh, thank you, Trevor," she said as she tried to turn and face him again but he held her fast.
"I have something else for you," he whispered in her ear. Then, holding up the ring for her to see he asked, "Sypha Belnades, will you marry me?"
She gasped and he then allowed her to turn in his arms. Cupping his face in her hands she gazed lovingly into his eyes and said, "Yes! I will marry you, Trevor Belmont! But you know we don't have to…" He cut her off with a kiss.
Then, slipping the ring on her finger he told her, "I want to. Besides, no Belmont can be born a bastard."
"Oh - okay then," she haltingly replied, "Is that some sort of family decree?"
"No," he replied with a smirk, "I made that up just now."
"Trevor!" she said smacking his chest.
She then held up her hand to admire the ring. "What do the stones represent?" she asked.
"Well, the diamond is for love. The rubies and sapphires are for fire and ice," he said with a grin.
She looked up into his eyes and said, "I love you, Trevor Belmont!"
"I know," said he. Then, capturing her lips with his, he proceeded to show her exactly how much he loved her.
….oOo….
A/N: I may add on to this. I haven't decided yet. Oh, and I did borrow a bit from LOTR by J. R. R. Tolkien.
