Their fifth day at the tavern Gwaine's health was steadily improving. He had a day and half's worth of medicine still to take but Raieya was confident they wouldn't need another visit from the Healer. His cough was all but gone and he was growing restless with being cooped up in the room.
"Why don't we have lunch in the main room today?" suggested Gwaine, looking for any reason to leave their room.
"Gwaine," said Raieya. "The healer said you needed to stay in and rest for awhile."
"What have I been doing?" countered Gwaine. "It's just down the hall. Come on, Rai, I'm tired of being stuck in this room."
"I don't know," said Raieya. "Today's the best you've felt. I'm not sure you should risk it just yet."
"How much of a risk can going into a different room be?" he pointed out.
"There's more people around," argued Raieya. "What if you get sick again from being around them?"
"Shouldn't the medicine prevent that?"
"That's another thing," added Raieya. "You haven't finished all the doses yet. I don't think you're meant to go anywhere till its gone."
"Raieya," said Gwaine. "Stop worrying. I'm fine now. Let me out long enough to eat some lunch!"
"You're not completely back to normal," argued Raieya. "Your cough isn't completely gone."
"Dammit, Raieya," he replied. "I'll go eat lunch and then come back to the room! It won't be that long!"
Raieya sighed in aggravation.
"How about this?" she suggested, annoyed. "Eat lunch here and then you can have dinner out tonight. That way you'll have had another dose beforehand."
"Alright," agreed Gwaine after a moment. "And if I survive that then I get to leave the room tomorrow."
"We'll see," said Raieya.
Gwaine was about to reply but he was interrupted by a knock on their door.
"I'll get it," said Raieya, exchanging a curious look with him.
She opened the door to be greeted by her brother.
"Hello, Raieya," he said. "Would you like to get some lunch?"
Raieya glanced back at Gwaine uncertainly but he motioned for her to go ahead.
"Uh, sure," she replied. "Give me just a moment."
Roldan nodded and Raieya closed the door.
"You sure?" she asked Gwaine.
"Go on," he nodded. "Bring me something back."
"I will," agreed Raieya, pulling on her boots. "Don't leave this room."
"I'll be right here," said Gwaine, slightly irritated.
"You better be," she warned, heading out the door.
Roldan and Raieya headed out to main room of the tavern. He insisted upon buying her meal again. Once they had their food they found a quiet table in the corner.
"How's Gwaine?" asked Roldan.
"He's recovering well," she answered. "We should be able to leave in the next day or so."
"That's good," he replied. "That's one of the reasons I wanted to have lunch with you, Raieya. I'll be leaving for Fairwood in the morning."
Raieya nodded, unsure of what he intended to do.
"You don't need to worry," he said, seeing her uncertainty. "I'll tell our family I saw you,of course, but I won't tell anyone else."
"Thank you," she said, feeling relieved.
"I'm still not happy about what happened," said Roldan. "If you had heeded my warnings about Lucan... But we can't change the past now. I didn't agree with fathers decision for you to flee. Though, now that I've seen you again, and thought about it more, I realize I'd never want you dead or imprisoned. I'm sorry for all the anger I've been harboring toward you. I suppose in reality I was thinking more of how your decisions affected me and less of how they affected you."
Raieya was silent a moment, surprised by Roldan's words. Lucan had torn apart the once good relationship she and Roldan once had.
"Roldan," she began. "I made mistakes, I realize that. I wish that I had listened to you but at the time all that mattered to me was Lucan. He was my first love. I didn't know any better. And who would want to listen to their older brother in a matter like that? Especially one who lectured her every chance he got? I had mother in one ear encouraging me and you in another telling me to get away from him."
"I suppose I shouldn't have been so hard on you," conceded Roldan. "I had forgotten how much mother liked him."
"Well she had that ridiculous fantasy about me marrying a noble and living in a castle," laughed Raieya. "That's never going to happen. After that whole ordeal I never want to be wed."
"Suppose I can't blame you for that," he replied. "I trust you can take pretty good care of yourself."
"I sure as hell can," said Raieya. "Survived two months own my own. I don't need anyone."
"Why do you travel with a partner now then?" asked Roldan, curiously.
Raieya shrugged. "Efficiency. I have someone to watch my back, help cook, help pack. We split the cost of rooms. He's not bad company either."
Roldan nodded. "As long as he stays good to you."
Raieya rolled her eyes. "He will. I'm a better judge of character now. I know I can trust Gwaine."
"Yes, I suppose if he earned your trust after Lucan than he must be alright."
"Maybe I'll introduce you tomorrow before you leave," said Raieya. "He's dying to get out of the room."
"Perhaps we could do breakfast in the morning then?" suggested Roldan.
"I'd like that," agreed Raieya with a smile.
By that point they had finished their meal and were ready to leave.
"Thanks again for lunch," said Raieya, rising from her chair.
"Don't mention it," he replied, also standing.
Raieya closed the distance between them, wrapping her arms around him.
"I'm glad you don't hate me," she said.
"I could never hate you, Raieya," he replied, returning her embrace. "You'll always be my handful of a little sister."
Raieya laughed, shoving him playfully as they broke apart.
"We'll meet you out here tomorrow morning," she said. "About an hour after first light?"
"See you then," agreed Roldan.
Raieya returned to the bar to get some food for Gwaine and then returned to her room in high spirits.
"I assume it went well?" asked Gwaine, accepting the food she brought.
"Very," said Raieya, smiling broadly. "I have my brother back. He's forgiven me."
"I'm glad," said Gwaine. "I still don't think he had any right to blame you in the first place."
Raieya shrugged. "It's in the past now. He's leaving tomorrow. I told him we'd all have breakfast before he goes."
"I get to leave the room and be introduced to your brother?" asked Gwaine, with a mischievous smile.
"If you behave yourself," warned Raieya. "And if your health continues to improve."
"I'll be fine," shrugged Gwaine, grinning. "And I'll try. For you."
Raieya stuck her tongue out at him. "You're such a prat," she said.
"You like me anyway," smirked Gwaine.
"I tolerate you," corrected Raieya.
"Mhm," said Gwaine. "You'd be lost without me."
"Whatever," scoffed Raieya. "I think you're the one who'd be lost with me. You'd still be sick in the woods somewhere."
"I would've been fine," said Gwaine, with a laugh. "Just admit that I'm the best partner there is."
Raieya rolled her eyes at him. "I guess I like having you around."
"You do," he replied confidently.
That evening Raieya and Gwaine ate dinner out in the main room. She made Gwaine uphold his deal and return to their room while she went and performed. While she made money again that night, she decided it would be her last night to play. She doubted she could keep Gwaine in another night and he was improving. If his health seemed stable tomorrow they might even be able to leave the next day.