Strange Relationship
A collection of Meredith and Orsino drabbles.
III. Fever
Summary: Grand Cleric Elthina entrusts a sick Meredith to Orsino's care
Orsino wondered what on Thedas he had done to warrant being summoned to see the Grand Cleric.
He had been minding his own business in his office really, eating lunch and dreaming of his upcoming holiday (if four days of uninterrupted reading could be counted as a holiday) when a nervous young apprentice arrived at the door and said that the Grand Cleric required to see him at his earliest convenience.
Orsino knew what that really meant.
It meant that he was to drop everything and scurry over to Hightown as fast as his elven legs could carry him.
And so it was that the First Enchanter found himself hurrying up the steps of the Chantry, eating his pastry with hasty bites. Despite being a mage, Orsino could admire the Chantry for all its architectural wonder. Gold statues gleamed in the early afternoon light, white marble still pristine white despite its age. It was tall, grand and utterly magnificent in all its glory; a true homage to the Maker.
Orsino polished off his lunch, adjusted his robes carefully then pushed one of the heavy doors open with a grunt. The Chantry surprisingly empty. He walked up the center of the building, his footsteps light and careful. The First Enchanter liked the inside of the Chantry just as much as the outside. Inside stood beautiful gold statues, vibrant red fabrics stitched with gold tassels and threads, polished wooden pews and candles flickering gently. Sunlight streamed through the stain glass windows. It was always warm – always peaceful, a remedy for heavy hearts and minds. Orsino breathed in the scent of burning incense sticks and felt some of his coiled up stress diminish.
"Ah, there you are First Enchanter," remarked a soft feminine voice behind him.
The elven mage turned around and found Grand Cleric Elthina descending a ruby carpeted staircase, looking the very picture of grace, aged wisdom and serenity. She gave him a gentle smile, her large grey eyes filled with warmth. He had a great amount of respect for the human on the count that she was rational and gentle with always a kind word for anyone – even a mage.
And the fact that she was the only person in the city that could make Meredith pull her horns in.
Orsino gave a respectful bow as the woman approached. "Your Grace, you wanted to see me?"
Elthina nodded. "Yes Orsino, there is something that I must ask you. I require your assistance. Please, let us discuss it further in my office," the woman gestured to a door off to the side of the main chamber, no doubt her office. The First Enchanter followed the female through to the Grand Clerics personal study. It was a modest sized room and much nicer than his own office. A large, polished wooden desk sat in the center of the room. A collection of paper, quills and other various little knick knacks had been arranged upon the smooth gleaming surface. Several bookcases lined the room, each filled to capacity with thick leather bound tomes. A friendly pot plant hung down in a macramé sling, the flowers blooming away happily.
Elthina went to her desk and sat behind it, motioning for Orsino to sit in the chair opposite. He complied and sunk into the padded chair, all the while wondering what on Thedas was going on. The elven mage watched as the Grand Cleric reached for a little, dark blue teapot that he had not noticed on her desk. In fact, in addition to the teapot were two matching teacups, teaspoons, a bowl of sugar cubes and a small jug of milk.
"Tea Orsino?" Elthina asked with a smile.
Orsino felt any inkling of resistance crumble. She knew him too well. "Please."
The woman reached for the teapot and poured out a cup. Somehow, Elthina could make even the act of pouring tea graceful. The mage added sugar and milk, stirring his cup thoughtfully.
"As I said, I require your help with a rather difficult matter."
Orsino took a sip of the tea. What might have been a fine and delicious cup only tasted of suspicion. "Give voice to thoughts and see it done Your Grace," the mage replied, masking his uncertainly behind a veil of politeness. It was not often that the Grand Cleric entrusted him with tasks. In fact, he was only summoned to see the Grand Cleric after mouthing off to Meredith one too many times – like a naughty school boy summoned into the office of the head mistress. The thought brought a smile to his lips.
"Thank you Orsino. This matter regards the Knight Commander."
The smile faded and Orsino's mouth tightened at the mention of Meredith's title. "Knight Commander Meredith has not graced me with her presence in three days. Apparently I am not important enough anymore," the mage replied. He knew he should have swallowed sarcasm but it flowed as easily from his tongue as saliva. For once he did not care.
Elthina's smile faded slightly and she gave a tired sigh. "As the First Enchanter, you occupy her thoughts more than she cares to admit," the old woman remarked.
Orsino fell silent. He had no expected such a response. Unbidden, an image of the blonde female straddling his hips with bared teeth and wild hair surfaced in his mind. It was an image that seemed to be occupying his thoughts more than he would have liked to admit. A jolt to his belly told the First Enchanter that the image was not entirely unpleasant. Horrified, Orsino gave himself a mental shake. It would just not too for him to have such thoughts about Meredith of all people, the woman who belittled him on a daily basis. The mage focused his attention onto the Grand Cleric, chasing the unwelcomed and highly intrusive image back to the depths of his subconscious where he would deal with it in a more appropriate time.
The Maker truly did have a sense of humour.
"I am sure she thinks of me with nothing but contempt and loathing Grand Cleric," Orsino replied, taking a sip of his tea.
Elthina looked at him with a sadness that could not have made him feel anything other than guilty. "Despite what you may think Orsino, she respects you."
An eyebrow hiked up his forehead. "I highly doubt that Grand Cleric."
"Orsino."
The mage felt the warning in her tone and reined back his rebellious tongue before it landed him in more trouble."Forgive me Your Grace. I have been feeling rather stressed as of late. What is this task you speak of?" asked the elven mage, eager to move the conversation forward.
"Yes of course. You are aware of course that Meredith has been absent of her duties correct?" The old cleric paused, apparently choosing her words with extreme care. Orsino waited patiently, his breath held. He had not seen the Knight Commander in some time, which was peculiar for Orsino was certain that shouting at him was Meredith's favourite hobby. Perhaps Meredith had quit at last? Stormed out of Kirkwall, flipping off the city with a rude gesture? He was not sure what to think of that. Meredith had been part of the tower for years – so much so that he could not imagine that Gallows without her stalking through the corridors, barking orders at mages and templars alike.
He brushed the wistful thinking aside. "I have noticed her absence. Where is she Your Grace?"
"Meredith is rather ill at the moment Orsino. One of the Lyrium shipments was contaminated," Elthina explained.
The First Enchanter could not believe his elven ears. Crystal and Ice Meredith sick? For the second time that day, Elthina had stunned Orsino into silence He almost did not think it was possible. The Knight Commander was the type of woman who never seemed to get sick. She never seemed human enough. His mind churned over the new information. It seemed plausible.
"Unusual but not life threatening Grand Cleric. I know of many templars who ingest too much Lyrium. The effects only become apparent later on in life."
"The Knight Commander has Lyrium Fever. Do you know much about it?"
Orsino stilled for a moment, as motionless as a gargoyle. When he found his tongue eventually, the First Enchanter chose his words carefully. "I know a little of Lyrium Fever from books and account from templars. The illness stems from corrupted Lyrium that has not been refined properly and has become contaminated. It corrupts dreams and accelerates the heart. Essentially it seems to scare people to death in the form of their nightmares. If not treated properly, it is life threatening," the mage concluded.
The Grand Cleric nodded. "You are correct of course. I am no expert in such matters but I have been told that she much be under constant supervision. While she has this sickness, it is important that she does not ingest anymore Lyrium and I would like you to assist me with that."
"Would a templar not be better suited to this task? Meredith and I do see eye to eyes these days. Or any day for that matter," replied the elven mage.
"Perhaps a templar would but I would prefer you First Enchanter. The Knight Commander could easily order another templar to give her Lyrium. I trust you Orsino and I would rather commit Meredith to your care than to another. You are experienced in healing magic, even more so than the Gallows healer."
"Grand Cleric I...I do not feel I would be best suited to such a task."
Elthina leaned forward on her desk, her grey eyes large and "Orsino. I do not want to trust anyone else to this task. You would be doing the Chantry a great service and both I and Meredith would be in your debt."
The First Enchanter almost stopped breathing.
Meredith?
In his debt?
The idea had merit and sounded almost too good to be true. Orsino took another sip of the tea, stealing a moment to gather his thoughts.
What option did he really have?
"Very well Grand Cleric. I cannot guarantee that Meredith let me help her but I will endeavour do my best."
Elthina sat back in her chair, her expression a picture of peace and gratitude. He was not entirely accustomed to seeing it. "Thank you Orsino. I cannot tell you how glad I am to hear that. If it pleases you, return to the Gallows and find Meredith. See if there is anything that you can do to help her get better."
Orsino took the statement as a sign to leave and he stood up from her desk, drinking down the last gulp of tea from his cup. He never wasted tea. It was more of the few pleasures he allowed himself as First Enchanter and paid many silvers for good quality tea. The leaves that the Grand Cleric used in her tea were the best he had ever tasted and the mage was determined not to let it go to waste. He gave the grey haired woman a respectful bow. "I bid you farewell Your Grace. Maker watch over you."
"As you as well First Enchanter. Maker guide your path."
"Thank you." With that, Orsino turned and left the office of the Grand Cleric, exiting out into the brightly lit and colourful Chantry hall. The low chanting and the gentle flickering of the candlelight did nothing to quell his uneasiness at the situation. A young man he recognised as the exiled prince Sebastian of Starkhaven prayed near a golden statue of Andraste and for a second, Orsino was almost tempted to join him. He pushed the thought aside however and briskly crossed the Chantry hall and out the door before he went and threw himself at the feet of Andraste and wept.
Outside of the Chantry, sunlight broke through the pale grey snow clouds overhead. It was a cold day in Kirkwall. The air savaged any exposed skin and sharp shards of ice speared his lungs when he breathed in. Such was Kirkwall winters. His boots crunched across newly forced ice crystals as he moved through Hightown. He took in the sights and smells of the Hightown Market district. Orsino did love it so and would have gone to market more often had Meredith not had such a tight grip upon his finances. Vendors did not care he was a mage and bargained with him as they would anyone else. Coin was coin at the end of the day. Various Stalls had been set up in open street squares, the smell of meat sizzling and fresh herbs hung in the air above. Citizens chattered amongst themselves, selling and trading with one another. Guards patrolled the streets, keeping a watchful eye on the children that were roaming in little gangs. Fabrics of every colour and pattern imaginable were hawked from countless vendors. The mage passed stalls of golden trinkets, enchanted jewellery and gleaming and suddenly wished desperately that he had grabbed more coin before he left the Gallows.
Begrudgingly, he dragged himself away from an enchanted bracelet that had blue stones set between the golden links. The gleaming blue gems had drawn his attention because they were almost the exact same shade Meredith's eyes – a very strong ocean blue. A smile pulled at Orsino's lips as he turned away from a disappointed vendor. He remembered when Meredith used to attend market with him in their younger days and he almost laughed right then and there when he recalled a distant memory of the blonde haired woman ruffling up an Antivan vendor who she thought was trying to swindle her over a sword. In those days, Meredith would smile at him and push back locks of blonde hair when she was nervous.
Those days were long since gone.
It was not long before Orsino had made his way back to the Kirkwall city harbour where the Gallows sanctioned boats were docked. The First Enchanter was lucky enough to catch a ship just before it left for the Gallows. Handing over the coins for his passage, Orsino boarded the boat back to the Gallows. The boat was underway in a matter of moments, sailing through the grey water. The mage sat himself on a seat on the barge, wrapped up in a heavy winter cloak and rubbing his glove glad hands together in an effort to warm his frozen digits. He chewed over the situation, his elven mind racing. The mage looked longingly at the churning grey water beneath the boat and was half tempted to drown himself right then and there. The realisation of what he had just done sunk into his skull. What in the Maker's name had he just agreed to?
The man ran his hands through his hair, elbows resting on his knees. Out of the corner of his eyes, he could see a young woman being violently sick over the side. A dwarf was rubbing her back sympathetically, a white haired held her steady over the side and a dark skinned Riviani insisted that vomiting was good for the soul. The girl looked as bad as he felt and when the boat docked, she was the first off with her companions. It was only then did he recognise her as Hawke. It seemed she had enough sense to leave her sister behind when visiting the Gallows.
Putting the girl out of his mind, Orsino moved briskly through the Gallows, his steps light and quick upon the marble floor. Various mages bowed respectfully as he passed them, wishing him well or stopping to chat. It had come to a point in time where Orsino could not walk down the Gallows corridors without stopping to speak with someone at least once. Such was the job of the First Enchanter. For better or ill, everyone knew his name and needed to talk to him.
In the marbled corridors, the First Enchanter headed up the countless floors of the Gallows. By the time he reached the senior quarters for mages and templars alike, Orsino was panting heavily and had to hold the banister for support. It was a sure sign that his old age was fast approaching. He wiped his brow and carried on down the corridors, seeking out Meredith's quarters. It was not hard to find. As Knight Commander, Meredith had insisted that she be housed near him so he knew the way well.
It did not take Orsino long to find the quarters of the Knight Commander. Two young templars were stationed outside her door, arms crossed and looking distinctly surly. The First Enchanter could hardly blame them. Guarding the Knight Commander would not have been his first choice to spend an evening and when Orsino approached, they greeted him with an unusual amount of respect. "Ah First Enchanter. We are glad you are here."
Orsino fought hard not to raise an eyebrow. "I am sure you are." He nodded at the heavy door. Is the Knight Commander alone in there?"
"The healer just left First Enchanter. He left anything that you may need in and if you required anything else, you were to summon him at once," responded the second.
"Thank you. You are dismissed."
The two of templars looked at each other once but did not protest. Orsino did not expect them to. Without Meredith, some templars seemed more likely to obey him.
Once the echoes of their footsteps had safely faded away, Orsino pushed the door open to Meredith's quarters and slipped in quietly. The elven mage had been in her quarters a number of times in the past and it never seemed to change over the years. She had quite a bit of furniture including a four poster bed and another desk covered in notes, scrolls and piles of paper. Planters were placed in every corner; well kept and flowering waxy, green leaves. Two crossed swords mounted behind a Templar shield were braced upon the wall. The steel gleamed as if someone spent a great deal of time cleaning it. She had a good couple of book cases filled with countless rare volumes that probably cost more than the First Enchanter made in a year. He knew from personal experience that Meredith enjoyed reading. After all, she raided his own bookshelves enough looking for new material. Orsino would not have been surprised if she had read every book in the Gallows.
The mage turned his attention to the four poster bed. He approached the bed of the Knight Commander, his footsteps so silent and light that he would have put the greatest rogue to shame. There with her long blonde mussed and adorned in a thin red chemise was Meredith Stannard. The tense, stern expression was completely gone from her face. Instead it was replaced with a look of great pain and restlessness that made her look years younger. She was pale and trembled in her sleep, her fists clenching every so often. She did not look like the dominating predator that he had been accustomed to for decades. Orsino's gut clenched uncomfortably. For all that the Meredith put him through, she was still the Knight Commander and therefore important to the Gallows. He did not like seeing her in such a condition.
Orsino looked to the bedside table. A collection of brightly coloured bottles were arranged neatly the table, carefully labelled with the neat print of the old healer. The mage released a sigh and looked around the room. There was little he could do but keep watch over her and give her potions when required. Settling in for a long night, the First Enchanter wedged himself into one of Meredith's plush chairs along with a book from her shelf.
It was going to be a very, very long week.
Over the course of the next few days, Orsino could do nothing but watch at the Lyrium fever spread through Meredith's body. In her sleep she moaned and cried out, kicking the blankets into a tangled mess. She arched her back and gritted her teeth like a baby throwing a hysterical tantrum. It were as if she were fighting some powerful force in her dreams. The sweat streamed down every surface of her body, leaving her skin shimmering. She grew increasingly hot to the point that Orsino resorted to healing magic. He had funnelled his own energy directly into her body in efforts to bring her temperature down and calm her sleep but his magic seemed to have little effect on either. She shook and sweat and mumbled words that he did not understand, names he had not heard pass her lips before.
She screamed for Amelia the most.
Whoever that was.
Orsino was sure he was not certain to ever find out.
The worst came to past one night when a snow storm raged outside. Orsino was dozing in the chair when a gut wrenching cry awoke him from his light slumber. The Knight Commander shrieked out in her sleep so loudly that Orsino was sure she would alert the entire Gallows. It was the loudest and most terrifying scream that he had ever heard. The marrow in his bones froze. He could not recall how long the scream had lasted. It sounded like a child crying in despair, an old forgotten scream that must have been swallowed down years before.
The First Enchanter sprang from the chair and rushed to her side. "Knight Commander! Meredith! Wake up!"
Meredith thrashed against his grip, her limbs flailing out wildly. Summoning up every ounce of his strength, the mage pushed as much blue magic into her skin as he possibly could. Orsino felt the all too familiar surge of energy leave his body, like a gust of wind rushing past him. Immediately it weakened the First Enchanter more than he cared to admit but it seemed to help the blonde. Her thrashing decreased beneath his grasp and her breathing dropped back into a more natural rhythm. When he pulled away, Orsino was surprised to see Meredith's feverish eyes had opened. Red bloodshot tendrils clashed with the bright ocean blue hues of her eyes.
"O-Orsino," the blonde croaked, her voice like sandpaper. Orsino could not remember the last time she had ever called him by his first name. Clearly the Lyrium had a stronger hold than he had anticipated.
The First Enchanter grabbed a potion bottle from the side table and sat on the edge of the bed. Orsino unscrewed the cork from the top with one hand while propping up the Knight Commander up. His arm circled around her shoulders and he pulled her against him. Orsino was surprised at how light she was. Without the armour to archer her down, Meredith weighed very little. "Meredith, drink this. It will help."
Meredith mumbled something in her fever and tried to push him away. The elf hung tight, pressing the bottle to her mouth again.
"Drink."
The blonde groaned and her mouth tilted open. Orsino tipped the bottle downwards, his eyes trained upon the arch of her throat. Sure enough, her natural reflexes began to kick in and Meredith drunk down the potion slowly. Her throat jerked as the liquid slid down her throat. One of her trembling hands reached up and coiled around his at the bottle neck, tipping it back further. "That's it. Drink it all," Orsino murmured, his hooded eyes concentrating on the sensation of Meredith's fingers wrapped around his own. Her hands were softer than he imagined, the palms only slightly calloused from years of swordplay and training. He rested his head chin on her damp nest of blonde curls and breathed in that scent that was so utterly Meredith.
As she drained the bottle, Orsino held tightly her and allowed himself to forget all that she was and all that she had done to him. He looked at her wrist and found it surprisingly slender and shapely. Orsino thought back to the market and smiled despite himself.
The bracelet made of gold and blue would have fitted nicely around her wrist.
Meredith awoke with a start and almost immediately regretted it. Ocean blue eyes blinked and she tried to swallow, only it was a mistake. Her tongue felt like a roll of old carpet. Her bones and muscles pulsed with pain. Worse still was the sensation of sweat on every single pore of her skin. It seemed to stick to her in a congealing mess. Despite the sweat, Meredith felt extraordinarily cold and found herself trembling beneath her blankets.
"Ah, you're awake. That is encouraging," remarked an all too familiar voice.
The Knight Commander looked up sharply. Sitting (or rather lounging) with his feet up in an overstuffed armchair was the First Enchanter, looking right at home. Orsino glanced up from his book and it was only then did she notice he was wearing his half moon spectacles; the gold rimmed ones that she liked to call his "old man glasses". His gaze dropped ever so slightly and he gave her a lazy smile. It was only then did Meredith realise that she was wearing only a thin red chemise. Meredith felt the blood rush to her cheeks. Her hands found the blanket and she pulled it to her chest, scowling deeply at him for good measure.
Orsino retaliated with a scoff that was not terribly convincing. "Oh don't flatter yourself now Meredith," the elven mage remarked, his tone arched.
Meredith's eyes narrowed. "What are you doing in my quarters Orsino? I do not remember giving you permission to be in here." she snarled, trying to ignore the sensation of sweat pooling on her skin.
He gave an insolent smirk. "I am here by the Grand Clerics orders Meredith."
Ocean blue eyes widened in shock. "I beg your pardon?"
"The Grand Cleric trusted me to look after though only the Maker knows why."
"This is a trick. I know it," she breathed, livid at the entire situation. Meredith angrily fisted the blankets. It was utterly degrading and the Knight Commander would be damned before she took such an insult lying down.
An eyebrow arched up Orsino's forehead. "It is just until you are better Meredith. Elthina wants you fully recovered before you return to work," he remarked, his tone smug and satisfied.
"You have influenced her in some way."
Orsino folded his arms, his forehead crinkled slightly as if he were contemplating something complex. "I did nothing. Be very careful where you fling those accusations Knight Commander."
Meredith opened her mouth to say something preferably snide but snapped her jaw shut, swallowing her words back down. The mage took her silence in his step and got up from the stuffed chair. Meredith watched his every movement like a bird of prey. He crossed the short distance to her bed and reached a thin necked potion bottle on the bedside table. "How are you feeling?" he asked, pouring the contents out into a silver goblet.
"I have been better", she replied, reaching up and wiping her damp forehead. The sweat was beginning to make her feel nauseous. She could not stop shaking either, which didn't help matters in the slightest. "What happened?"
"You contracted Lyrium Fever. You have been sleeping for nearly four or five days now. I was worried for you. I have never seen Lyrium fever quite as vicious as bad."
The Knight Commander frowned. The Gallows had never had a faulty shipment before. Chantry suppliers were vetted thoroughly. "Were any of my templars affected?"
"Minor Lyrium fever. Nothing that could not be cured by the healer. It seems as if you got the most contaminated batch."
"And what of the Lyrium?"
"The templars are chasing up the origins of that last shipment of Lyrium. We will find out where this contaminated source came from. My mages have destroyed the last batch and we are currently testing all the rest. Until then, you must remain here until you have completely recovered." He held out the silver cup to her, looking the very picture of innocence with his expressive elven eyes.
Something about him annoyed her and Meredith's temper reared its ugly head again. It was a struggle for the female not to reach out and slap the goblet from his hand. Instead, she took it with trembling hands. "And I am certain you are enjoying every minute of this." She took a sip of the cool liquid, keeping her eyes firmly set upon the mage. Meredith expected him to snarl back a scathing remark but he did not deliver. Instead, the mage simply raised an eyebrow. "I did not enjoy watching you writhe and cry in your sleep Meredith nor did I enjoy exhausting my energy supply trying to calm your rest," Orsino remarked calmly.
Meredith could not have been more astonished if the Maker himself had burst into the room, riding a High Dragon and juggling Dark Spawn. Surveying him carefully, the female clearly see his obvious fatigue. The elf looked pale as if he were sick too and had dark rings under his eyes as if he had not slept properly in quite some time. She was not entirely sure whether or not to be grateful or even more shocked. The latter seemed more likely.
She swallowed down the remainder of her potion then placed the goblet on the bedside table. "Why are you here anyway mage? Do you not have your own duties to attend to?"
"You are the Knight Commander. I felt obligated to help."
Meredith looked at him, her expression the same mild distaste that she wore when the elf became First Enchanter. "Is that so? You simply decided to help with no thought to reason or reward?"
"Must you always distrust me?"
"Always, and with good reason mage."
The mage gave her a smile. It was the kind that could civilise Chasind folk. "Oh so suspicious Meredith. It is a truly charming quality. Did it ever occur to you once that I am here simply because I want to be?"
"Nothing is ever that simple mage. You should know that."
The First Enchanter locked eyes with her and for a moment, his large olive orbs stole the breath from her lungs. "I do know, more so than others. But that is not the issue here Meredith. Stop trying to change the subject. Be a good girl and just heed me for a moment."
The female clenched her jaw shut. She mentally calculated at how quick she would have to move to punch him in the face before he put a barrier up. "Alright mage, I will entertain you just this once. What do you suggest I do then?"
"I suggest drinking plenty of fluids and get as much rest as possible. Clear broths would be ideal also." He paused for a moment and levelled his olive eyed stare upon her face. "And absolutely no Lyrium."
A sick man diets. Meredith snorted at the utter indignity of it all. "I don't suppose I am allowed outside of my quarters?"
The mage frowned and settled back into the overstuffed armchair. "No, you have been confined here until you recover. Anything that we will require will be delivered here." The mage reached for his leather volume. It looked almost too heavy for him. Meredith let out a disgruntled groan and flopped back onto the pillows, her mouth curled into a frown. "How long must I remain in here?" she asked, dreading the answer. The thought of a Knight Commander was confined to bed by the First Enchanter left Meredith scowling. If she had not been the one personally involved, she could have found the concept enormously comical.
"Until myself and the healer deems you healthy again."
"Which will not be anytime in the near future then. You will have me confined here for as long as possible," she fired back at him.
The First Enchanter threw her a positively wolfish smirk that he made no attempt to try and hide. "I must admit Meredith, having you confined to bed does have an allure. It opens up so many possibilities." His tone was arched and dripping with innuendos that left Meredith's heart hammering. She felt all the blood in her body rush into her cheeks, painting them cherry red. "W-what are you implying mage?" Meredith inwardly winced the moment the words left her mouth. Orsino would jump on her weakness and use it against her. He had done it countless times in the past.
A chuckle escaped the First Enchanter. It was warm and friendly and relaxed her tense muscles more than she cared to admit. "You need to relax Meredith. I was merely jesting with you," he remarked merrily.
The blonde female snorted, seemingly unconvinced. "As if I could ever relax with you in the room."
Orsino gave her an expression of mock sadness. "It hurts me that you would say that but I know it is not true."
"If you must tell yourself that at night in order to sleep better than so be it," Meredith responded. She could not help but smile, if even for the sake of the moment. She promptly received one in return. Sometimes it seemed that the more words they exchanged, the more they grew mellow and passive towards one another. Of course, more often than not, the opposite occurred.
Meredith fingered her blonde curls and winced when she felt the lank locks beneath her fingertips. "I need a bath."
"I was not going to say anything."
Meredith threw him a filthy glare. "Then get out while I bathe."
He cracked another smile, eyes glimmering playfully. "After all I have done for you, you have the audacity to throw me out now? What an ungrateful woman."
The mage promptly received a pillow to the face from the Knight Commander.
"Out mage!"
"Temper temper Meredith. That simply will not do," the mage remarked but he stood up from his chair without further protest. Meredith watched as he sauntered to the heavy oak slab and paused at the threshold. Orsino looked back at her and threw a devious smirk in her direction. It was not a good sign. "Oh and Meredith. Red is a good colour for you."
"OUT!"
Maker! I had to end that before it just carried on and on and on. This drabble was already 2000 words more than I wanted. I've been working on this since before my exams. I quite like this one. Its as fluffy as a Orsino/Meredith drabble could get. Sick Meredith being cared for by Orsino. Thank you all for le reading and for the wonderful reviews left for the last chapter. You guys are so awesome!