Author's Note: I've been a bad updater lately, many apologies to my readers! but here is the fourth installment to Solace sorry it is so short compaired to the other chapters though hopefully I am out of my writting funk so that I will update this more often, I hope you enjoy!
His vision swam, in a pool of muted colours as he felt himself begin to escape sleeps' somewhat painful grasp only to be met by more agony. He moaned softly, groggy and uncomfortable, his eyelids felt as though they were lead weighs pressing down on his skull forbidding him to open his eyes. Though with some effort he managed to finally open his bloodshot eyes only to regret it.
Dawn must have just arrived as the orange sun began to peak over the walls of the castle, Malik squinted, groaned and cursed the architect that had put the medical wing on the east side of the castle.
"I am glad to see that you are awake..." he heard a soft sweet voice say, and with some effort he turned his head to see the young woman from the day before...at least he thought it was the day before.
He could see that she was very tired, her deep chocolate eye seemed dull and devoid of life almost and he could see the dark half moons beginning to take form beneath her eyes.
"I was worried that you would not survive the night...the sounds you made in you sleep...such sounds of pain." she told him softly, biting her lip looking at him shyly.
"...Y-you stayed here then...?" he questioned his speech groggy and slow.
"Indeed, someone had to watch over you...Uzma is getting too old I fear..." she replied looking out the window at the sun rising.
Malik found himself starring at the young woman again, her sun-kissed skin seemed to glow in the new morning light, her long dark, almost black hair catching the sunlight just so. His conscience chided him tiredly, telling him it was impolite to stare, yet for some reason he could not look away, this was the woman who had helped save his life and for that he was incredibly grateful. He also happened to find her particularly beautiful as he gazed at her groggily... "what?" he questioned himself wondering how this little thought had popped into his head, perhaps too much blood loss, or the side-effects of some sort of drug she had given him...
"Would you like some tea?" he suddenly heard her ask as she turned back to face him.
"...Sorry?" he asked somewhat dazed, "it must be the blood loss..."
"Would you like some tea?" she repeated giving him a soft smile.
For a moment he wondered if his stomach could handle any sort food or drink but he slowly nodded his head.
He watched lazily as she quickly busied herself with preparing the water; she worked fast, then again most healers had to work fast when it came down to it. His gaze shifted from the young woman to his bandaged appendage, or rather what was left of it, though he could see that his arm was no longer there his brain had yet to compensate for the loss leaving him with the feeling of ghost-like limb.
Shortly she appeared at his side, a small ceramic mug clutch in her small hands; kneeling down beside him she placed the mug of steaming liquid on the cool stone floor beside her. Carefully and tenderly she slipped her arms around his shoulders and gently pulled him upward; he tried to aid her the best he could, but found that his muscles would not comply with him and ended up letting her do most of the work, much to his embarrassment. Slowly she brought the tea to his cracked dry lips and let to liquid slowly flow into his mouth.
After a few small sips she placed the mug upon the floor once more and gently lay him back down.
The room fell silent in the early morning air, Malik closed his eyes once more trying to ignore the dull throbbing of his injury. He heard the soft splash and trickle of, like someone was wringing out a water drenched cloth, he slowly opened his eyes and watched as the young healer placed a cool towel against his cheek.
As she continued to gently wash his face he stared at her, though knowing he probably appeared to be very impolite.
"I am very sorry for what has happened." she said softly gently smoothing the cloth over his forehead, it's coolness felt wonderful and he briefly wondered if he had a fever.
"...So am I..." he replied in an almost grudgingly manner, though not towards her. "W-what happened to Altair...?" he asked through gritted teeth, his anger beginning to rise.
The young healer saw this and quickly tried to think of a way to quell the assassins anger, though before she opened her mouth she heard an all to familiar voice call her name from the infirmary door way.
"Basira."
She turned to see Al Mualim standing in the the doors arch tall and almost forbidding; quickly she rose from her position and scurried over to the master assassin, not wanting to keep him waiting.
"Yes master?" she questioned him softly her eyes darting about curiously.
"I see he is awake, how is he fairing." he asked her, glancing over her shoulder to the bedridden assassin.
"I am surprised at how well he is doing, he has a remarkable will to live." she replied glancing back as well. After a moment she turned back to the older man and paused, pursing her lips before continuing. "He has asked of Altair..."
"What of?" he asked curiously.
"What has become of his fellow brother." she replied, looking at the floor suddenly feeling very meek under the gaze of the master.
"I have dealt with him for now, that is all he needs to know for the the time being." he replied cooly and then sighed.
"Of course." she bowed her head slightly.
"Continue to watch him, I will send for Uzma should the need arise." he then said before resting his large weathered hand on the healers petite shoulder. "You have saved his life, and for that I am grateful."
"I am afraid it is still too soon to tell; infection is always a possibility and he still might be susceptible to shock, and if the cauterized wound is at all broken or damaged, there is the possibility he could bleed out..."
Al Mualim held up a hand to silence the babbling young woman. "I trust that you and Uzma will be able to care for him properly. Now if you would excuse me, I must take my leave." And with that the master assassin gave her a slight nod before leaving her alone once more with the injured man.
As she hurried back to his bedside Basira chided herself for babbling on in the presence of Al Mualim and sat once again on the floor by Maliks bed in a huff.
Upon looking over to he she found he had once again fallen asleep, however he seemed less troubled this time as she gazed down at him. She sighed tiredly and began to pat his face again with a cool wet cloth, losing herself in deep thought.
As the days went by Malik slowly began to heal, with Uzma and Basira attending his injuries his chance at survival grew with each passing day, as did his anger and feeling of betray for Altair. He managed to keep his torn emotions in check though, after his first scolding be the ancient healer, with her saying he needed to focus on healing himself and to his hatred for others.
And soon Malik found himself standing somewhat lopsidedly at the edge of his bed with Basira at his side, ready to catch him if he swayed dangerously off balance.
"Basira will be helping you walk around the temple for a while; without your arm you balance with no doubt be off." Uzma told as she gave him the once over, checking to make sure the young healer had secured his bandages properly.
Malik held back a groan, he was beginning to feel babied, but he obeyed none the less, not wishing to receive another scolding from the older woman.
"Well off you go, go take a walk through the garden and get some fresh air, it will do you some good." the old woman said before shuffling about the room; cleaning up medical equipment and used gauze.
"If you feel as if you are going to fall, just grab on to me for support." Basira told him as he took a few uneven steps.
"You are half my size, I doubt you would be able to support me." he said glancing over to her as she kept to his side, ready to jump into action; he had said this more cooly than he had meant it but she seemed to brush it off quickly.
"I am stronger than I look." she replied, to which he merely grunted.
As the two companions left the infirmary and began to make their way down the hall towards the garden Malik suddenly felt himself become off-kilter and he felt himself stumble. Though he was quickly saved from an embarrassing and most likely painful fall by Basira who had quickly barred him with her arm, steading him.
"You see?" she told him as she gently helped him straighten up, he small, warm palm pressing against his firm chest lightly.
"I suppose..." he said and gave her a small lopsided smile, deciding to humor her, it was then that he realized that was the first time he had smiled since the incident; she seemed to notice as well.
"It is good to see you smile." she told him and gave his chest a warm pat and gave him a small smile of her own.
He merely nodded at her not quite sure what to say in response, but decided it would be best just to continue on their way.